The girlhood of Queen Victoria, vol. 1 (of 2)

by Queen of Great Britain Victoria

INTRODUCTORY NOTE TO CHAPTER X

The three summer months of 1838 were eventful in the life of the young Queen. It is not only that she attended an Eton Montem (that quaint ceremony so graphically described in Coningsby by one who was in future years to be her Prime Minister), and not only that she held her first Review in Hyde Park (which was somewhat of a disappointment to her owing to Lord Melbourne having dissuaded her from riding on horseback), but on the 28th June she was crowned in Westminster Abbey. There have been many accounts from eye-witnesses of the Coronation of British Sovereigns. Volumes have been written on the subject from the earliest times. Even the immortal pen of Shakespeare has touched upon this great ceremonial. Queen Victoria’s description, however, is unique in this, that the writer is the Sovereign herself, and that the Coronation is painted from the point of view of the central figure in the picture. Owing to the extreme youth of the Queen, her childlike appearance, her fairness and fragility, and the romance attaching to her sex, owing also to her dignity, simplicity, and composure amid that vast concourse in the setting of the great Abbey, surrounded as she was by every circumstance of pomp and splendour, and overweighted, as it seemed, by the tremendous and glittering responsibility of St. Edward’s Crown, the ceremony appeared to onlookers extraordinarily moving. The Queen noticed that Lord Melbourne was deeply stirred. He was one of the many who were in tears.

To the thousands who saw her on this occasion for the first time and to the millions who read the story of the Coronation, the 28th June, 1838, appeared to be the opening day of Queen Victoria’s reign. Who, among those present in the Abbey or in the streets of the metropolis, could foresee what her reign was to bring forth, and who could measure with any degree of accuracy the progress of the country she was about to rule, or the growth of the Empire over which she was destined to preside, between the day when the Crown was placed upon her head, and the day when it was borne away by her sorrowing servants from the Mausoleum at Frogmore sixty-three years afterwards?

“The guns are just announcing,” wrote Queen Adelaide to her niece, “your approach to the Abbey, and as I am not near you, and cannot take part in the sacred ceremony of your Coronation, I must address you in writing to assure you that my thoughts and my whole heart are with you, and my prayers are offered up to heaven for your happiness and the prosperity and glory of your reign.” The answer to this prayer for the young Queen is to be found in the story of her reign, and it is written large in golden letters across the face of her Empire.

CHAPTER X
1838 (continued)

Friday, 1st June.—I also told Lord Melbourne that I quite approved of what he had written to me (also in the afternoon) about the Homage at the Coronation; namely, that the Peers should kiss my hand; Lord Melbourne smiled when I said this. Lord Melbourne had left Lady Holland in a great fright, fearing there would be a thunderstorm, of which she is dreadfully afraid. We spoke of thunderstorms, of people being afraid of them, of there being always a certain degree of danger; of the danger of standing under a tree. I told Lord Melbourne I never could forgive him for having stood under a tree in that violent thunderstorm at Windsor last year; he said, “It’s a hundred to one that you’re not struck,” and then added smiling: “It’s a sublime death.” Spoke ... of Lord Durham for some time, of whose arrival we think we must soon hear. Lord Melbourne said, “I’ll bet you he’ll go by Bermuda,” which would be a good deal out of his way; I asked Lord Melbourne what could make Lord Durham wish to go there. He replied, “I’m sure I don’t know why he’s got it into his head, but I’ll bet you he’ll go there.” Spoke of my fear that Lord Melbourne was right in what he said about Lady Mary Lambton’s[498] great regret at leaving England, the other day; namely, her being attached to John Ponsonby,[499] which we think seems likely, as he (J. Ponsonby) is the only person to whom Lady Mary has written since she left England. Spoke of Epsom, and Lord Melbourne said there was scarcely ever “a Derby without somebody killing himself; generally somebody kills himself; it is not perfect without that,” he said laughing. Spoke of Don Giovanni, and the Statue having laughed so much the other night (about which Lablache told him he was so distressed), and Lord Melbourne said the original Piece and Music was very old; and on my observing that I thought this music by Mozart old-fashioned, he clasped his hands and looked up in astonishment....

Sunday, 3rd June.—We spoke of Music; of Lord Melbourne’s going to sleep when Thomas Moore was singing, which he would hardly allow. Lord Melbourne quoted some lines to prove that Lydian music used to put people to sleep; and of Phrygian music, which made people fight. I showed Lord Melbourne the 1st number of a work called, Portraits of the Female Aristocracy. Then he, and also I, looked at a new Work called Sketches of the People and Country of the Island of Zealand, which are very well done. Lord Melbourne said, in opening it, “These are a fine race, but they eat men, and they say it’s almost impossible to break them of it.” He farther added, “There are no animals whatever there, and therefore they are obliged to eat men.” Lady Mulgrave observed that she thought they only eat their enemies; Lord Melbourne said, “I fancy they eat them pretty promiscuously.” Lord Melbourne was in excellent spirits, and very funny in his remarks about the different drawings; it’s always my delight to make him look at these sorts of things, as his remarks are always so clever and funny. He again said that it was so difficult to break them (the New Zealanders) of eating men; “for they say it’s the very best thing,” which made us laugh. He added, “There was an old woman who was sick, and they asked her what she would like to have; and she said, ‘I think I could eat a little piece of the small bone of a boy’s head,’” and he pointed laughing to his own head, explaining what part of the head that small bone was.... Lord Melbourne went on speaking of New Zealand, &c., and said, “The English eat up everything wherever they go; they exterminate everything”; and Lady Mulgrave and Mr. Murray[500] also said that wherever the English went, they always would have everything their own way, and never would accommodate themselves to other countries. “A person in a public situation should write as few private letters as possible”....

Monday, 4th June.—Spoke of the Eton Montem, and I told Lord Melbourne I was going to the Provost’s house, which he said he was very glad of. There were two Montems while he was at Eton; he said no one knows the origin of the Eton Montem. Formerly there used to be, he said, a Mock Sermon at Salt Hill; a boy dressed like a clergyman and another like a clerk delivered a sort of sermon, and in the middle of it the other boys kicked them down the hill; George III. put a stop to it, as he thought it very improper. We spoke of the Montem, and of giving money, and Lord Melbourne said he thought he should give £20. I asked Lord Melbourne what he did when Lady Holland goes down to Brocket. “Oh! I give up the whole house to her,” he replied. And he says she twists everything about; not only in her own room but in other rooms downstairs. Then she swears she has too much light, and puts out all the candles; then too little, and sends for more candles; then she shuts up first one window, then another. I showed him in the Genealogy of Lodge’s Peerage how Lord Barham came to his title and how he was related to the Earl of Gainsborough. In looking over it, Lord Melbourne began to speak of Sir Charles Midleton, First Lord of the Admiralty, made 1st Lord Barham, and maternal grandfather to Lord Barham. He said he was a most distinguished and clever man. He told me, with the tears in his eyes, an anecdote of what he (Sir C. Midleton) did at the time of the Mutiny.[501] He was very much for those people and said, “I used always to think those poor fellows very hardly treated”; but when he heard of the Mutiny, he ordered two 74-gun ships to be put broadside of the ship in which the Mutineers were, and desire her to surrender, and if she did not, to send her to the bottom. So they said to him, “But if the men should disobey?” “Why, then we shall be in a scrape; but give your orders steadily and they won’t disobey.” “That was very fine,” said Lord Melbourne. Spoke of clothes, about which Lord Melbourne was very funny; said the fewer you had the better, and that he was certain it was very bad to keep things in store, at which we laughed much, and said it would be impossible for ladies to keep dresses in store, as the fashions always changed; and he was against keeping furs, as he said “The moth doth corrupt.” Spoke of Miss Chaworth, Byron’s first admiration, about whom Lord Melbourne told a story on Sunday, which I did not quite understand, and I begged him to repeat it which he did. It was as follows:—Miss Chaworth was told that she would like Lord Byron very much (she did admire him) and would in fact marry him. She said, No, she never would; for that if ever she married, it should be a man with two straight legs (Byron having one leg and foot quite deformed[502] from his birth, which made him limp very much); this was told to Byron, whom it shocked most exceedingly, as he was extremely unhappy and conscious of his lameness, and made him quite indignant. He went to her, made her copy a piece of music for him (they had been in the habit of singing together) in order to have a remembrance of her, took it, left the house, and never saw her again. Lord Melbourne told me there was an awkwardness between the two families; as in George II.’s reign Miss Chaworth’s ancestor was killed in a duel by a Lord Byron; they quarrelled at a Club, went upstairs, fought and Chaworth was killed[503]; Lord Melbourne said it was always suspected that he had been killed unfairly, as Chaworth was known to be the best fencer there was, and it was thought that Byron passed his sword through him before they fought. Miss Chaworth married afterwards a Mr. Musters and was very unhappy; lived on bad terms with her husband, and at last died deranged. Lord Melbourne said he saw her once, he went over to her place, Annesley, when he was staying in Nottinghamshire in 1813, and stayed there two days. She was then living on very bad terms with her husband, and everything was in a very uncomfortable state; but she was very kind to Lord Melbourne. I asked Lord Melbourne where Lord Byron made the acquaintance of his cousin, Miss Milbanke, now the Dowager Lady Byron; he said at his house, at Whitehall, where Byron used to come. Spoke of Irish and Italian servants, who Lord Melbourne says are very uncertain and not to be trusted. I asked Lord Melbourne if he had good servants; he said, “Not very”; he added, “I’m told that great drunkenness prevails in my house,” but that he never saw it, and as long as that was the case, he could not much complain; he, of course, can’t look after them. The man he always takes about with him, when he comes here, he says is a very steady, exact man, and always ready; he has risen from being a steward’s boy in his house. He told me that he has but few servants; a butler, this man, an under butler, and one footman; that’s all. He’s likewise told that his expenses in comparison to other people’s are very great; that the profuseness in his country house was beyond everything, people told him; he does not think the expense very great, in fact he says it cannot be, as he is so little at home.

Tuesday, 5th June.—At a ¼ to 11 we got into our carriages for Montem. Mamma and Lady Mulgrave were with me; Lord Melbourne, Miss Paget, Lord Albemarle and Lady Flora were in the next carriage to mine; then Lady Theresa, Miss Dillon, Lord Conyngham, and Miss Davys; and lastly Lord Lilford, Mr. Murray; Colonel Wemyss and Col. Cavendish. These carriages preceded us in going to Eton. We were stopped on the Bridge for “Salt.” When we reached Eton College we were received there by the Provost,[504] Dr. Hawtrey,[505] and the other Fellows; we went under the Cloisters and saw all the boys march by, 3 times, which is a pretty sight; some of the boys were beautifully dressed. We then all went up to one of the rooms in the Provost’s house, where we looked out of the window and saw the flag flourished; we then took some luncheon at the Provost’s, I sitting between the Provost and Lord Melbourne. The only people besides our own party there, were, Mrs. Goodall (the Provost’s wife), Lady Braybrooke,[506] Edward of Saxe-Weimar,[507] Mr. Wood,[508] and two nieces of the Provost’s. The room in which we lunched is hung round with many portraits of the young men (now mostly, if indeed not all, old) who had been at Eton; amongst which were Lord Grey’s, Lord Holland’s, Lord Wellesley’s, Mr. Canning’s.[509] Lord Melbourne’s was not there, which it ought to have been. Lord Melbourne, said he had been painted by Hoppner, for Dr. Langford (his Master, but not the Head Master, who was then Dr. Heath), and had been sold at the sale of his things when he died.[510] Lord Melbourne said that Lord Holland had a fine countenance when young, but always lame, there being some ossification in one of his legs; he was “very slim” when young!! After luncheon we got into our carriages again (the other carriages following mine), and drove to Salt Hill, where we saw the boy again flourish the flag. The heat was quite intense, and the crowd enormous! We got back to the Castle at 20 m. to 2. I saw Lord Melbourne from 7 m. to 2 till 7 m. p. 2, in my room on my return. He said he was not tired, and was very anxious I should not be so. Spoke of the Montem, the fine boys; he thought they looked “very sheepish” and shy as they marched by; and the boy (a great big boy) who held up the bag for “Salt,” very shy, on the bridge. Lord Melbourne gave £10; and I £100. Lord Melbourne thought that the Provost and Mrs. Goodall, knew nobody, for she took Lord Melbourne for Lord Ebrington. It is 69 years, Lord Melbourne told me (the Provost had said) since he (the Provost) walked in a Montem! Lord Melbourne was going to dine at Lord Anglesey’s. He said he was going away directly. He had neither slept well. At ½ p. 2 I left Windsor (as I came the day before), and reached Buckingham Palace at ½ p. 4 or 20 m. to 5....

Wednesday, 6th June.—I showed him the letter from Uncle Leopold which I got yesterday, and in which he touches upon these unhappy Affairs, wishing me to prevent my Government from taking the lead in these Affairs, &c., &c.; and saying his position is des plus embarassantes. Lord Melbourne read it over with great attention, and then spoke of it all most kindly and sensibly; said he did not see how we could get out of this Territorial Arrangement; said he felt that Uncle’s position was not an agreeable one, for that he was made to do what his people disliked and what was extremely unpopular; “and people and countries never make allowances for the difficulties Kings are placed in; the King is made the Instrument of an Act which is extremely unpopular; and all the blame will fall upon him.” All this is most true; we spoke of this, and of its being rather hard of Uncle appealing to my feelings of affection for him. I told him what Uncle had said of Stockmar to Van de Weyer, and that Stockmar said he did not fear all this, and was sure that Uncle would give way in a little time. Lord Melbourne said, “He always says that the pressure of circumstances will make him give way, but I think he trusts everything to that power”; which Lord Melbourne does not think always is the case. He was going to show the letter to Lord Palmerston. I showed him another letter from Ferdinand in answer to mine to him about the Slave Trade; he seems very anxious to do what we wish, but stated the difficulties are so great; which Lord Melbourne said was true.... Before this, Lord Melbourne said, “Immense crowd at the Montem; my servant told me he never saw such a number of people.” Lord Melbourne was in sight of us, in coming to London, already before Datchet. His servant also told him that there were 72 pair of Post-horses sent down the road yesterday, and he (Ld. M.) paid 8 guineas for going; whereas in general he only pays 4. Spoke of the Montem; and of the boys there; the Collegers generally stay longer than the others; they must stay till there is a vacancy at King’s, unless they are past 19; he says there are much fewer little boys than there used to be; the Provost told him “they had only 20 in the lower form.” “People don’t send their children as early as they used to do.” We spoke of the Montem; the deal of money said to have been collected, more than ever was known. Lord Melbourne spoke of the boy who held the bag and looked so sheepish; of the Provost, who Lord Melbourne said was an excellent Master; that nobody could make a lesson so pleasant to the boys; and that he was “a beautiful scholar” and “a good-natured man.” Lord Melbourne said that “A Master should have great spirits; better spirits than all the boys.” He went on saying, “It’s now 42 years ago since I left Eton, and I should like very much to be put back to that time.” He would not like, he said, to go through all he had gone through; but to go back to that time, with his present experience; “I should manage them all so much better,” he said laughing. He spoke of the extreme love of contradiction children have; of the great deal of disputing there used to be formerly in private Society. Lord Egremont used to say, that Society was not near so amusing as it used to be; people were all so well educated, that there were no more any originals to be seen. Lord Melbourne said the love of arguing was at an amazing height when he was born; “People used to argue till they got into a passion and swore at each other.” That people always would find the other in the wrong....

Sunday, 10th June.—I told Lord Melbourne that the Queen Dowager had come to me the day before, and had told me that Chambers[511] had told her that she must not pass another winter in England, and wished her to go to Madeira, which she declared was too far off; he then named Malta, to which she assented, and asked my leave to go, and to have a frigate to go in; about which Lord Melbourne said there could not be the slightest difficulty. I said she told me she preferred Malta, as being still in my dominions.... Lady Mulgrave began saying how much mischief the Eton boys committed after the Montem, hacking and cutting things all to pieces. Of the Montem, its origin; the wish of some to abolish it; the Provost’s declaring he never would. The Provost, he told us, is the son of the butler of Lord Lichfield’s grandfather. Spoke of Dr. Hawtrey’s introducing much new learning, which the Provost disliked. Spoke of what the boys learn, and many coming away amazingly ignorant. What makes the school one, Lord Melbourne said, is that the most gentlemanly boys are sent there. Lord Melbourne told us that Talleyrand said, “La meilleure éducation, c’est l’éducation Publique Anglaise; et c’est détestable!” There is one Head Master and an Under Master, and eight other Masters at Eton, Lord Melbourne said. The Masters, he says, who are quite young men, often require more keeping in order and are more irregular than the boys. “My opinion is,” said Lord Melbourne, “that it does not much signify what is taught, if what’s taught is well taught.” Then he added, “People too often confound learning and knowledge with talent and abilities”; for that the two former could not make the two latter. Lord Melbourne was sent to Eton at 9 years old, but had been with a clergyman before, who taught him on quite a different principle, but very well; made him work very hard, with a dictionary, by himself, and at Eton they construe it to you first; “so that when I came to Eton I was infinitely superior to most of the other boys, and I could do my lessons and theirs too.” That’s because he always was cleverer than most other people. He said, “I never was so surprised as when I came there; I did not know what to do. It was perhaps 12 o’clock, and they said that I might stay out till two. I said, ‘What can I do? Who is to stay with me now?’ I thought it then very odd, for I had been accustomed to have 2 or 3 nursery-maids after me, not allowing me to wet my heels near the water; and here you are let into a field alone, with a river running through it, which is 10 feet deep at the bank; and if you make a false step you’re drowned to a certainty.” Then he said his father gave him a great deal of money, and he ate such a quantity of tarts, made himself so sick, though he was only there three weeks when he first went—that he was very ill when he went home, with eruptions and spots over his face. This made us laugh much. Spoke of the fighting there, and that the Masters should never allow it to go on long. “I always yielded directly,” he said, “if I found the boy too much for me; after the first round if I found I could not lick the fellow, I gave it up, and said, ‘Come, this won’t do, I’ll go away, it’s no use standing to be knocked to pieces.’” All this and a great deal more Lord Melbourne told us in the funniest, most delightful way possible; he is so amusing about himself, and so clever and sensible about education.

Monday, 11th June.—At 20 m. to 2 Lord Palmerston introduced the Prince de Ligne to me, Uncle Leopold’s Ambassador to me for the Coronation; I then went into the Drawing-room where the Prince de Ligne (who is a gentlemanlike and rather young man) introduced five other Belgian gentlemen, who have accompanied him. I hear he came in the most splendid equipage, with four grey horses. At 7 m. to 2 came my good Lord Melbourne and stayed with me till 5 m. to 3. He said he was well, and we spoke of the weather. He then told me of the difficulty of replacing the Chief Baron of Ireland (Joy, of whose death he had told me last Friday), and he said it was wished, and he thought it was best, to make O’Loghlen, now Master of the Rolls, Chief Baron, and to offer the Mastership of the Rolls to O’Connell; he said O’Connell might possibly refuse it, but that it might likewise satisfy him and his party; on the other hand, the difficulties are, that O’Connell might not give up his agitation, and that “we,” as Lord Melbourne says, may be attacked for it by the other party. He then asked me twice over, “Have you any particular feeling about it?” I said none whatever, and therefore it is left to Ministers to offer it, or not, as they may think fit.[512]

Wednesday, 13th June.—I made Lady Mary Paget[513] sing after dinner which she did beautifully, two songs before the gentlemen came in, the pretty one from The Ambassadrice, and one by Alari; Lady Adelaide[514] accompanying her in the last. The gentlemen then came in; after this Lady Mary sang the other song by Alari which she sang at Buckingham Palace; and then “Ah! non giunge” (Lady Adelaide accompanying her), most beautifully, with all Persiani’s ornaments. They, particularly Lord Anglesey, then insisted on my singing; which I did, but literally shaking with fear and fright. I sang “Il superbo vinctor” from Il Giuramento. Lord Melbourne stood opposite me, listening, which really is marvellous, considering he does not care the least about music. Lady Mary sang a very pretty little thing from Beatrice; and I then sang “Sogno talor.” We then sat down (at a ¼ p. 10), I sitting on the sofa with Lady Surrey, Lord Melbourne sitting near me the whole evening, and several of the other ladies sitting round the table. I observed to Lord Melbourne how dreadfully frightened I had been; and he smiled and said “I can quite understand it.” Talked of Ascot Races; Lord Melbourne said he had not been to Ascot Races since he left Eton, 42 years ago!! The Eton boys are now not allowed to go to Ascot, but in Lord Melbourne’s days they were much less severe than they are now. “My brother” (Pen Lamb) “was a great man on the Turf. I used always to go to him; I always got leave all the week, and used to go all the week, and very good fun it used to be,” Lord Melbourne said.

Thursday, 14th June.—Spoke of Miss Pitt, and of our fearing she was attached to her brother-in-law; Lord Melbourne said such a marriage could not take place now[515]; that the Law preventing it was only made last year. Till then such a marriage could take place; but was void, if any of the parties made objections to such marriage. This Bill made good all such marriages which had taken place (like the Duke of Beaufort’s[516]) but prevented any others being made. Lord Melbourne said he did not know if it was right or wrong; we spoke of it for a little while.[517] I then asked him if he thought it would be well, if, on occasions like the Races, I should wear my Star and Ribbon; he said yes.[518] I said to him also, that, if he did not dislike it, I should be so very happy if he would wear the Windsor Uniform when he came down to Windsor; he replied kindly, “I shall be very happy,” and I added I hoped he would often be at Windsor.[519]

Friday, 15th June.—I told him that I had been reading in the morning in Coxe’s Life of Walpole; which I found very interesting, but that I had got a good deal puzzled with the South Sea Company, and the Redeemable and Irredeemable debt; and that it was very difficult and puzzling, which he said it was, and that I should not trouble or puzzle myself with that part of the book, which is not clearly written; and he explained to me in a few words and in his clear delightful way, like a father to his child, this difficult South Sea Scheme. We spoke of that strange proposition, the Peerage Bill,[520] which is curiously told in Coxe’s Life. “That was all a party scheme,” said Lord Melbourne; “and done with a view to cripple George II.” “If that had been done,” he continued, “there would be hardly any peerages left now.” Lord Melbourne was speaking of how many peerages, of that time, were extinct; and that there were now 20 peers in the House of Lords without heirs. I likewise told him that the Duke of Wellington had let me know that George IV. and William IV. always wore the Order of the Bath on that day—Waterloo Day—as also on the anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar; and I asked Lord Melbourne if he thought I should do so, or not. He said he thought I should. I observed I did not like giving up my Blue Ribbon, even for one night; but if he wished it I would do so. He said, “If you don’t dislike it, I think you should do it; it will be considered a compliment to the Army....”[521]

Monday, 18th June.—Lord Melbourne then gave me a list of the Creations and Advancements which are to take place, which are as follows:

The Earl of Mulgrave	Marquis of Normanby
Lord Dundas	Earl of Zetland
The Earl of Kintore (Scotch)	Baron Kintore
The Viscount Lismore (Irish)	Baron Lismore of Shanbally Castle in the County of Tipperary
The Lord Rossmore (Irish)	Baron Rossmore of the County of Monaghan
The Lord Carew (Irish)	Baron Carew of Castle Boro in the County of Wexford
The Hon. Wm. S. C. Ponsonby	Baron de Mauley
Sir John Wrottesley, Bart.	Baron Wrottesley of Wrottesley in the County of Stafford
Charles Hanbury Tracy, Esq.	Baron Sudeley
Paul Methuen, Esq., of Corsham in the County of Wilts	Baron Methuen of Corsham.

Lord Melbourne said he wished to add two more,[522] with my consent, namely, Lord King,[523] an Earl; and to call up Lord Carmarthen[524] to the House of Lords. I of course consented to both. Before I say another word, I must not omit to mention that I wrote a letter to Stockmar begging him to mention to Lord Melbourne my anxious wish to give him the Blue Ribbon (which I offered to him through Stockmar already last year, immediately upon my accession, and which he refused in the most noble manner), as I said I felt I owed him so much; and he had been and was so very kind to me that it would grieve me to be giving other people honours whom I cared not about, and him nothing. Stockmar told me this morning he had shown Lord Melbourne my letter and that Lord Melbourne would speak to me on the subject. Accordingly Lord Melbourne said to me, “The Baron showed me your letter, and I feel very grateful, I am very sensible of Your Majesty’s kindness”; upon which I assured him he was quite right (having previously heard from Stockmar that he would decline it); “I hope,” he continued, “you don’t think I’ve any contempt for these things, but it gives me such a command”; which is most true; “and therefore you’ll allow me to decline it.”[525] I added I thought him quite right but that I could not do less. This is a fine noble disinterested act, and worthy of Lord Melbourne, and I honour, esteem and admire him the more for it; it only increases my fondness of him....[526] [**F1: no anchor apparent in text]

Friday, 22nd June.—At a ¼ p. 2 came Marshal Soult, Due de Dalmatie, who was introduced by Lord Glenelg. I was very curious to see him; he is not tall, but very broad, and one leg quite crooked from having been severely wounded; his complexion is dark, and he has the appearance of great age; his features are hard, and he speaks slowly and indistinctly. His eyes are piercing; he seemed much embarrassed. I then went into the outer room, where he presented his 12 (I think) Attachés to me, amongst whom were the Marquis de Dalmatie (his son), and his son-in-law. Wrote to Aunt Louise. At 3 came Lord Melbourne, and stayed with me till 4. He asked how I was, and was sorry to hear I had so much to do. I told him I had just seen Soult, who was so much embarrassed; which Lord Melbourne said he was also when he came to him; and that he never would understand anything, and that he made Lord Melbourne repeat the things over 20 times. He gave me a list of the names to be made Baronets on the occasion of the Coronation; there are 30; amongst whom are Mr. E. Lytton Bulwer and Mr. Micklethwait,[527] which last I must say Lord Melbourne has been most exceedingly kind about. I then begged him to add (to write down) the two following names to the list of Peers which he gave me the other day, and which he did; Lord King to be Earl of Lovelace, and Viscount Ockham in the County of Surrey; and the Marquis of Carmarthen to be called up by the title of Baron Osborne....

Wednesday, 27th June.—At 20 m. p. 4 I went with Lady Lansdowne and Lady Barham (the Duchess of Sutherland going in her own carriage, as she feared an open one), and Lord Conyngham and Col. Wemyss to Westminster Abbey to see all the Preparations for to-morrow. The streets were full of people, and preparations of all kinds. I was received at the Abbey by Lord Melbourne, the Duke of Norfolk, Sir William Woods,[528] and Sir Benjamin Stevenson. The whole thing is beautifully and splendidly and very conveniently done; Lord Melbourne made me try the various thrones (that is, two) which was very fortunate, as they were both too low. I came home again as I went (crowds in the streets and all so friendly) at 5. The preparations for Fairs, Balloons, &c. in the Parks, quite changes all, and the encampments of the Artillery, with all their white tents, has a very pretty effect. I did not think Lord Melbourne looking well, though he said he was better. I’m very glad I went to the Abbey, as I shall now know exactly where I’m to go, and be. The Duchess of Sutherland came to ask for further Orders a few minutes after I had got home, and said she had taken Lord Melbourne in her carriage to Downing Street which is only one step from the Abbey. He walked to the Abbey. Wrote my journal. At ½ p. 7 we dined.

Thursday, 28th June!—I was awoke at four o’clock by the guns in the Park, and could not get much sleep afterwards on account of the noise of the people, bands, &c., &c. Got up at 7 feeling strong and well; the Park presented a curious spectacle; crowds of people up to Constitution Hill, soldiers, bands, &c. I dressed, having taken a little breakfast before I dressed, and a little after. At ½ p. 9 I went into the next room dressed exactly in my House of Lords costume; and met Uncle Ernest, Charles and Feodore (who had come a few minutes before into my dressing-room), Lady Lansdowne, Lady Normanby, the Duchess of Sutherland, and Lady Barham, all in their robes. At 10 I got into the State Coach with the Duchess of Sutherland and Lord Albemarle, and we began our Progress. It was a fine day, and the crowds of people exceeded what I have ever seen; many as there were the day I went to the City, it was nothing—nothing to the multitudes, the millions of my loyal subjects who were assembled in every spot to witness the Procession. Their good-humour and excessive loyalty was beyond everything, and I really cannot say how proud I feel to be the Queen of such a Nation. I was alarmed at times for fear that the people would be crushed and squeezed on account of the tremendous rush and pressure. I reached the Abbey amid deafening cheers at a little after ½ p. 11; I first went into a robing-room quite close to the entrance, where I found my eight Train-bearers: Lady Caroline Lennox, Lady Adelaide Paget, Lady Mary Talbot, Lady Fanny Cowper, Lady Wilhelmina Stanhope, Lady Anne Fitzwilliam, Lady Mary Grimston, and Lady Louisa Jenkinson,—all dressed alike and beautifully, in white satin and silver tissue, with wreaths of silver corn-ears in front, and a small one of pink roses round the plait behind, and pink roses in the trimming of the dresses. After putting on my Mantle, and the young ladies having properly got hold of it, and Lord Conyngham holding the end of it, I left the robing-room and the Procession began. The sight was splendid; the bank of Peeresses quite beautiful, all in their robes, and the Peers on the other side. My young Train-bearers were always near me, and helped me whenever I wanted anything. The Bishop of Durham[529] stood on one side near me. At the beginning of the Anthem where I’ve made a mark, I retired to St. Edward’s Chapel, a small dark place immediately behind the Altar, with my Ladies and Train-bearers; took off my crimson robe and kirtle and put on the Supertunica of Cloth of Gold, also in the shape of a kirtle, which was put over a singular sort of little gown of linen trimmed with lace; I also took off my circlet of diamonds, and then proceeded bare-headed into the Abbey; I was then seated upon St. Edward’s chair where the Dalmatic robe was clasped round me by the Lord Great Chamberlain. Then followed all the various things; and last (of those things) the Crown being placed on my head;—which was, I must own, a most beautiful impressive moment; all the Peers and Peeresses put on their Coronets at the same instant. My excellent Lord Melbourne, who stood very close to me throughout the whole ceremony, was completely overcome at this moment, and very much affected; he gave me such a kind, and I may say fatherly look. The shouts, which were very great, the drums, the trumpets, the firing of the guns, all at the same instant, rendered the spectacle most imposing. The Enthronization and the Homage of, 1st all the Bishops, then my Uncles, and lastly of all the Peers, in their respective order, was very fine. The Duke of Norfolk (holding for me the Sceptre with a Cross) with Lord Melbourne, stood close to me on my right, and the Duke of Richmond with the other Sceptre on my left. All my Train-bearers standing behind the Throne. Poor old Lord Rolle, who is 82 and dreadfully infirm, in attempting to ascend the steps, fell and rolled quite down, but was not the least hurt; when he attempted to reascend them I got up and advanced to the end of the steps, in order to prevent another fall. When Lord Melbourne’s turn to do Homage came, there was loud cheering; they also cheered Lord Grey and the Duke of Wellington; it’s a pretty ceremony; they first all touch the Crown; and then kiss my hand. When my good Lord Melbourne knelt down and kissed my hand, he pressed my hand and I grasped his with all my heart, at which he looked up with his eyes filled with tears and seemed much touched, as he was, I observed, throughout the whole ceremony. After the Homage was concluded I left the Throne, took off my Crown and received the Sacrament; I then put on my Crown again, and re-ascended the Throne, leaning on Lord Melbourne’s arm; at the commencement of the Anthem I descended from the Throne, and went into St. Edward’s Chapel with my Ladies, Train-bearers, and Lord Willoughby, where I took off the Dalmatic robe, Supertunica, and put on the Purple Velvet Kirtle and Mantle, and proceeded again to the Throne, which I ascended leaning on Lord Melbourne’s hand. There was another present at this ceremony, in the box immediately above the Royal Box, and who witnessed all; it was Lehzen, whose eyes I caught when on the Throne, and we exchanged smiles. She and Späth, Lady John Russell and Mr. Murray saw me leave the Palace, arrive at the Abbey, leave the Abbey and again return to the Palace!! I then again descended from the Throne, and repaired with all the Peers bearing the Regalia, my Ladies and Train-bearers, to St. Edward’s Chapel, as it is called; but which, as Lord Melbourne said, was more unlike a Chapel than anything he had ever seen; for, what was called an Altar was covered with sandwiches, bottles of wine, &c. The Archbishop came in and ought to have delivered the Orb to me, but I had already got it. There we waited for some minutes; Lord Melbourne took a glass of wine, for he seemed completely tired; the Procession being formed, I replaced my Crown (which I had taken off for a few minutes), took the Orb in my left hand and the Sceptre in my right, and thus loaded proceeded through the Abbey, which resounded with cheers, to the first Robing-room, where I found the Duchess of Gloucester, Mamma, and the Duchess of Cambridge with their ladies. And here we waited for at least an hour, with all my ladies and Train-bearers; the Princesses went away about half an hour before I did; the Archbishop had put the ring on the wrong finger, and the consequence was that I had the greatest difficulty to take it off again,—which I at last did with great pain. Lady Fanny, Lady Wilhelmina, and Lady Mary Grimston looked quite beautiful. At about ½ p. 4 I re-entered my carriage, the Crown on my head and Sceptre and Orb in my hand, and we proceeded the same way as we came—the crowds if possible having increased. The enthusiasm, affection and loyalty was really touching, and I shall ever remember this day as the proudest of my life. I came home at a little after 6,—really not feeling tired.[530]

At 8 we dined. Besides we 13, Lord Melbourne and Lord Surrey[531] dined here. Lord Melbourne came up to me and said, “I must congratulate you on this most brilliant day,” and that all had gone off so well. He said he was not tired, and was in high spirits. I sat between Uncle Ernest and Lord Melbourne, and Lord Melbourne between me and Feodore, whom he had led in. My kind Lord Melbourne was much affected in speaking of the whole ceremony. He asked kindly if I was tired; said the Sword he carried (the 1st, the Sword of State) was excessively heavy. I said that the Crown hurt me a good deal. He was much amused at Uncle Ernest’s being astonished at our still having the Litany[532]; we agreed that the whole thing was a very fine sight. He thought the robes,[533] and particularly the Dalmatic, “looked remarkably well.” “And you did it all so well; excellent!” said he with the tears in his eyes. He said he thought I looked rather pale, and “moved by all the people” when I arrived; “and that’s natural.” The Archbishop’s and Dean’s Copes (which were remarkably handsome) were from James the 1st’s time; the very same that were worn at his Coronation, Lord Melbourne told me. Spoke of the Duc de Nemours[534] being like his father in face; of the young ladies’ (Train-bearers’) dresses which he thought beautiful; and he said he thought the Duchess of Richmond (who had ordered the make of the dresses, and had been much condemned by some of the young ladies for it) quite right. She said to him, “One thing I was determined about; that I would have no discussion with their Mammas about it.” Spoke of Talleyrand and Soult having been much struck by the ceremony of the Coronation; of the English being far too generous not to be kind to Soult. Lord Melbourne went home the night before, and slept very deeply till he was woke at 6 in the morning. I said I did not sleep well. Spoke of the Illuminations and Uncle Ernest’s wish to see them.

H.S.H. Feodora
Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
from a portrait by Gutekunst 1830

After dinner, before we sat down, we—that is, Charles, Lord Melbourne and I—spoke of the numbers of Peers at the Coronation, which Lord Melbourne said was unprecedented. I observed that there were very few Viscounts; he said, “There are very few Viscounts”[535]; that they were an odd sort of title, and not really English; that they came from Vice-Comités; that Dukes and Barons were the only real English titles; that Marquises were likewise not English; and that they made people Marquises when they did not wish to make them Dukes. Spoke of Lord Audley who came as the 1st Baron, and who Lord Melbourne said was of a very old family; his ancestor was a Sir Something Audley[536] in the time of the Black Prince, who with Chandos gained the Battle of Poitiers. I then sat on the sofa for a little while with Lady Barham and then with Charles; Lord Melbourne sitting near me the whole evening. Mamma and Feodore remained to see the Illuminations, and only came in later, and Mamma went away before I did. Uncle Ernest drove out to see the Illuminations. I said to Lord Melbourne when I first sat down, I felt a little tired on my feet; “You must be very tired,” he said. Spoke of the weight of the robes, &c.; the Coronets; and he turned round to me, and said so kindly, “And you did it beautifully,—every part of it, with so much taste; it’s a thing that you can’t give a person advice upon; it must be left to a person.” To hear this, from this kind impartial friend, gave me great and real pleasure. Mamma and Feodore came back just after he said this. Spoke of these Bishops’ Copes, about which he was very funny; of the Pages, who were such a nice set of boys and who were so handy, Lord Melbourne said, that they kept them near them the whole time. Little Lord Stafford[537] and Slane (Lord Mountcharles)[538] were Pages to their fathers and looked lovely; Lord Paget[539] was Lord Melbourne’s Page and remarkably handy, he said. Spoke again of the young ladies’ dress about which he was very amusing; he waited for his carriage with Lady Mary Talbot and Lady Wilhelmina; he thinks Lady Fanny does not make as much show as other girls, which I would not allow. He set off for the Abbey from his house at ½ p. 8, and was there long before anybody else; he only got home at ½ p. 6, and had to go round by Kensington. He said there was a large breakfast in the Jerusalem Chamber, where they met before all began; he said laughing that whenever the clergy or a Dean and Chapter had anything to do with anything, there’s sure to be plenty to eat. Spoke of my intending to go to bed; he said, “You may depend upon it, you are more tired than you think you are.” I said I had slept badly the night before; he said that was my mind, and that nothing kept people more awake than any consciousness of a great event going to take place and being agitated. He was not sure if he was not going to the Duke of Wellington’s.

Stayed in the drawing-room till 20 m. p. 11, but remained till 12 o’clock on Mamma’s balcony looking at the fireworks in Green Park, which were quite beautiful.

Friday, 29th June.—I told Lord M. that I had been quarrelling with Feodore about Louis Philippe, whom she called a Usurper, and that I told her he was not, and that we disagreed amazingly about it; he smiled. That she called our William III. and Mary Usurpers; Lord Melbourne said it was that strong feeling of the divine right of Kings which some people have; that many people would not be convinced that Louis Philippe had not organised that Revolution; but that it did not do, he said, to wish well to the Family and not to Louis Philippe as Feodore did; for that the happiness of the one depended on the other....

Sunday, 8th July.—Got up at 20 m. to 10 and breakfasted at 11. Signed. Heard from Lord Melbourne that, “He finds himself much better this morning and will wait upon Your Majesty about three or a little after.” At ½ p. 3 came my excellent Lord Melbourne and stayed with me till a ¼ p. 4. He looks very thin and pulled as I think, but was in excellent spirits and as kind as ever. He said he felt much better today, but that his knee was still stiff and had been very painful yesterday. It’s the same leg (the left) which was first bad, but the foot was nearly well; he wore large loose shoes and no straps to his trousers. I showed Lord Melbourne a letter from Lord Glenelg I had got about Lord Durham and a letter from Lady Durham. And Lord Melbourne showed me one from Lord Palmerston about Van de Weyer’s being asked, and about the Ladies of the Ambassadors having some seat at the Balls....

Monday, 9th July.—At a ¼ p. 11 I went with Mamma and the Duchess of Sutherland, Feodore, Lady Barham, Lord Conyngham, Lord Albemarle, Miss Pitt, Lady Flora, Späth, Lord Fingall, Miss Spring Rice, and Miss Davys, Lady Harriet Clive and Mr. Murray to a Review in Hyde Park, of which I subjoin an account. I could have cried almost not to have ridden and been in my right place as I ought; but Lord Melbourne and Lord Hill thought it more prudent on account of the great crowd that I should not this time do so,[540] which however now they all see I might have done, and Lord Anglesey (who had the command of the day, looked so handsome, and did it beautifully and gracefully) regretted much I did not ride. I drove down the lines. All the Foreign Princes and Ambassadors were there, and the various uniforms looked very pretty. The troops never looked handsomer or did better; and I heard their praises from all the Foreigners and particularly from Soult. There was an immense crowd and all so friendly and kind to me....

Wednesday, 11th July.—Spoke of Soult, and that Uncle Ernest said that the Duc de Nemours told him that Soult was in excellent humour here, in better humour than he had ever seen him. Lord Melbourne seemed pleased. He said he was not at all surprised at the manner in which the English received Soult; as they were always curious to see distinguished foreigners. During the War, at the Peace of Amiens when Marshal Orison[541] came over, they took the horses out of his carriage and dragged him through the streets; “and that was in the midst of war,” he continued. “Many people were rather annoyed at that; but that was from mere curiosity.” I spoke of Feodore, and asked him if he saw any likeness between us; he said, “I see the likeness, though not perhaps very strong.” I spoke of her children and of Charles (her eldest) being her favourite, as he was so much the fondest of her. Lord Melbourne said smiling that one must not judge according to that, and to the manner in which children showed their love; “Children are great dissemblers; remember how Lear was deceived by that. They learn to be the greatest hypocrites,” he said.

Thursday, 12th July.—Lord Melbourne said that they were going to have a Cabinet upon what O’Connell and Sir Robert Peel declared in the House of Commons, the day before yesterday, upon the Irish Tithes. They proposed that the sum left from the sum which was voted in 1833 for the distressed Clergy, should be employed to pay the arrears of Tithes due. I asked Lord Melbourne if he thought this a good plan; he said it would have the effect of quieting the people, but that it was “rather a lavish way of bestowing the Public Money.” In general, Lord Melbourne said, when any sum of the kind is voted for a certain class of people, many miss it who ought to get it, and many get it who ought not to get anything.

Friday, 13th July.—Lord Melbourne said Ellice had told him that they cheered Soult amazingly when he went to Eton (that day), and Ellice told him he must ask for a Holiday, which he did, upon which the Boys cheered him much more; he shook hands with some of the Boys, and then they all wished to shake hands with him, so he shook hands with the whole school....

Tuesday, 17th July.—He (Ld. M.) said that the Sutherlands had a large family; and asked if the last was a boy or girl, at which I laughed very much, as I said he ought to know; he said boys were much more expensive than girls; there was only the girl’s dress that could be expensive and perhaps Masters; but nothing to what boys’ going to school cost. I said that younger sons were always so poor, and that girls married; he said certainly that was so, and even if girls did not marry they wanted less money. I said Feodore at one time liked having boys much better than girls, but she did not now, as she thought that boys got into more difficulties and scrapes than girls. “Men certainly get into more scrapes than girls,” said Lord Melbourne; “but there is risk in both.” We spoke of other things; and he said Lord Ebrington had come to him and spoken to him about its being reported that I had so many French things, and that the lace of the Servants’ coats came from France; which I said I knew nothing about, and I assured him I had quantities of English things, but must sometimes have French things. He said he knew quite well it was so, and that it was impossible not to have French things, if one wished to be well dressed. That it was not so much the material, but the make which we English could not do; he said they never could make a cap or a bonnet; and that the English women dressed so ill....

Monday, 24th July.—We spoke of Sir Edmund Lyons,[542] who writes such long despatches; and who Lord Melbourne has never seen before; he was a Naval Officer and never employed before in the Diplomatic Service. He was the Captain who took out Otho. I then went over to the Closet, where the Prince Royal of Bavaria was introduced by Lord Palmerston and Baron Cetto. Having neither attendants nor uniform, he came in morning attire. He is not quite good-looking, but nearly so,—slim, not very tall, but very gentlemanlike and agreeable and lively. I made him sit down, and he was completely à son aise and consequently put me at ease. I showed Lord Melbourne Hayter’s sketch for his great picture of the Coronation; which Lord Melbourne liked very much, and which was very generally admired; Lord Melbourne looked at it for some time observing upon each part; he said that Hayter would never get it as good in the large picture as he had got it here. I then said to Lord Melbourne that I thought the Coronation made him ill, and all the worry of it; he said he thought he would have been ill without it; “It wasn’t the Coronation,” he said, “it was all these Peerages; but I think that’s subsiding a little now.” I asked if Lord Derby expected being made a Duke; Lord Melbourne replied, “No, I don’t think he did; I told him at once that could not be, and that generally satisfies people.” Lord Derby has a very good claim for it, Lord Melbourne said, for the following reasons:—George III. declared he never would make any Dukes, and wished to reserve that Title only for the Royal Family; and he only made 2, Lord Melbourne thinks—the Duke of Northumberland and the Duke of Montagu[543]; Mr. Fox told the late Lord Derby that if he could ever make the King waive his objections, he should be made a Duke; and this, Lord Melbourne said, certainly was a strong pledge for a Whig Government; but Lord Grey passed him over (Ld. M. doesn’t know why) and made the Duke of Sutherland and the Duke of Cleveland; and Lord Derby said in his letter to Lord Melbourne, “he did not see why the names of Vane (D. of Cleveland), Grenville (Duke of Buckingham), and Grosvenor (Ld. Westminster), should be preferred before him.”[544] He did not mention Gower, Lord Melbourne thinks from civility, but that he feels the same respecting him. I asked what Duke he wished to be; Lord Melbourne said he supposed Duke of Derby, which was formerly a Royal title, having belonged to the Dukes of Lancaster; he takes his title from Derby, a Hundred of Lancashire—not from the C^o. of Derby. He thinks, Lord Melbourne continued, that he has a right to be Duke of Hamilton, through his mother, Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, who was daughter to James, 6th Duke of Hamilton, and a very handsome person; I asked who she married afterwards; Lord Melbourne replied, “It was a very awkward business; she married nobody; she had a great attachment for the Duke of Dorset” (father to the late), “Lord Derby parted from her, but would not divorce her, in order that she might not marry the Duke of Dorset.” “The Duke of Dorset,” Lord Melbourne continued, “was a very handsome and agreeable man; with a great deal of gallantry....” I asked Lord Melbourne what sort of person Charles Sheridan was; he said an agreeable lively young man; but rather wild. We then spoke for a long time about all the Sheridans. C. Sheridan was in the Admiralty and rose to get £300 a year; but they fancied, he said, that he was in bad health, and made him give it up. There are three sons, Brinsley, Frank (who is with Lord Normanby), and Charles; “They are, like all the Sheridans, clever but careless, and have no application,” he said. They plagued Lord Melbourne constantly to give Charles a place; and Lord Melbourne offered him a Clerkship in the Audit Office; but he would not have that, and said it was less than he had had. George Anson[545] told Lord Melbourne it would be quite nonsense to give it to him, as he would never come, and there would be a complaint of him the first month. Lord Melbourne said that a person who leaves the situation he has, must not expect to be put in again in the same place he had. This is a £100 a year, “which is better than nothing.” I observed that a person who does not wish to submit to that cannot be very anxious to do much, in which Lord Melbourne agreed. This Charles Sheridan lives a good deal with the Chesterfields, and positively has nothing.[546] Lord Melbourne said, “I know they’ll get ruined, and we shall have to provide for them.” “They all have £60 a year.” There is one Charles Sheridan, an excessively ugly man, who is Uncle to all these people; he is Brinsley Sheridan’s son by his 2nd wife; his 1st wife was a professional singer, a Miss Linley, whom Lord Melbourne remembers when he was a boy; she died in 1794; she was excessively handsome[547]; “The women” (Lady Seymour) “are very like her; some of them,” he said. Spoke of young Brinsley Sheridan running away with his wife; of Lady Seymour, who, Lord Melbourne said, “is the most posée of them all.” “She says those odd things,” Lord Melbourne continued, “as if they were quite natural.” They (the Seymours) are always teazing Lord Melbourne about Titles, and are so vexed at their boy’s having no title; and they never will call him anything else but the Baby[548]; I said that was foolish; “Very foolish; and I’ve told them so,” replied Lord Melbourne, “but I can’t convince them.” The Sheridan[549] who wrote the Dictionary was Great-Grandfather to all these; his Wife was a very clever woman, Lord Melbourne said, and wrote some very good books; “they have been a very distinguished family for a long time,” he added.

Tuesday, 25th July.—At a ¼ to 4 I rode out with Lady Portman, Lord Uxbridge, Lord Lilford, Lord Portman, Col. Buckley, Col. Cavendish, and Miss Quentin, &c., and came home at 6. I rode dear Tartar who went most beautifully; it was a delightful ride; we rode to Acton, and round by East Acton home. We never rode harder. We cantered almost the whole way going out, but coming home we galloped at least for 3 miles without once pulling up. We came home through the Park and in at the front entrance of the Palace. It was a charming ride. At 7 we dined. Besides we 13 (Lady Charlemont, Lord Headfort, Lady Caroline Barrington, and Wm. Cowper replacing Lord Byron, Lady Tavistock, Mrs. Campbell, and Sir H. Seton), Lord Conyngham dined here. I sat between Lord Conyngham and Lord Headfort. At a ¼ p. 8 I went to the Opera with Mamma, dear Feo, Lady Charlemont, Lady Caroline, Miss Cavendish, Lord Conyngham, Lord Headfort, Mr. Cowper, Col. Buckley, Col. Cavendish, and Lady Flora. It was I Puritani, and Lablache and Grisi were singing their Duo when we came in. Unfortunately poor Grisi was taken ill, quite at the end of the 1st act, and was unable consequently to sing her fine Scene in the 2nd act. Fanny Elsler danced the Chachucha (at my desire) between the 2nd and 3rd acts.

Wednesday, 26th July.—Lord Melbourne said, “Lord Duncannon tells me he thinks that marriage of Lord Shelburne’s[550] is quite off.” Lord Melbourne said that somebody said to him (Ld. Shelburne) how handsome Miss Elphinstone was; upon which he replied, “I don’t think so; but beauty is not the thing to look to in a Wife.” Now this may have been repeated to her, Lord Melbourne says, and of course could not please her; and the young lady may have said, Lord Melbourne continued, “Why, you don’t seem to show that fondness for me you ought to have, and therefore I think we’d better break it off altogether.” Lady Kerry,[551] he said, had told Lord Duncannon that she believed it was all off; I observed, Why then had Lord Lansdowne announced it to me, if it was not quite settled?—Lord Melbourne said, “The same thing happened to Lord Duncannon that happened to you”; Lord Lansdowne announced it to him—said it gave him great pleasure—that it was very nearly settled but they did not wish to speak of it for the present; “and two hours afterwards he got a letter from Lansdowne, saying it was not at all settled,” and that he should not mention it.[552] Lord Melbourne then asked if I had got the letter he sent me, from the Duchess of Sutherland to him, saying her sister Lady Burlington[553] gladly accepted the situation of Lady of the Bedchamber; and Lord Melbourne said, “That may now be considered as settled”; and that Lady Lansdowne had best be spoken to about it all; which I begged him to be kind enough to do, which he said he would. I told Lord Melbourne that Conyngham had told me that he heard from Frederic Byng, that Lord Essex[554] was so excessively pleased at my having called up Lady Essex (Miss Stephens, the Singer that was, and married about 2 or 3 months ago to Lord Essex) at the Ball, and having spoken to her; this touched Lord Melbourne; we both agreed she was a very nice person.[555] Wrote my journal. At a ¼ to 8 I went into the Throne room with my Ladies and Gentlemen, Feo and Mamma, where I found the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Augusta and George. After waiting a little while we went into the green drawing-room, which looked very handsome lit up, and was full of people all in uniform. I subjoin an account of all the arrangements and all the people. After remaining for about five minutes in that room, talking to several people, amongst others to good Lord Melbourne, we went in to dinner, which was served in the Gallery, and looked, I must say, most brilliant and beautiful. We sat down 103, and might have been more. The display of plate at one end of the room was really very handsome. I sat between Uncle Sussex and Prince Esterhazy. The music was in a small Orchestra in the Saloon, and sounded extremely well. Uncle Sussex seemed in very good spirits, and Esterhazy in high force, and full of fun, and talking so loud. I drank a glass of stein-wein with Lord Melbourne who sat a good way down on my left between the Duke of Devonshire and Lord Holland. After dinner we went into the Yellow drawing-room. Princesse Schwartzenberg looked very pretty but tired; and Mme. Zavadowsky beautiful, and so sweet and placid. About 20 m. after we ladies came in, the gentlemen joined us. I spoke to almost everybody; Lord Grey looked well[556]; the Duke of Wellington ill but cheerful and in good spirits. I spoke for some time also with Lord Melbourne, who thought the Gallery looked very handsome, and that the whole “did very well”; “I don’t see how it could do better,” he said. He admired the large diadem I had on. At about 11 came some people who (as the Gallery was full of dinner &c.) were obliged to come through the Closet, and of whom I annex a List. Lady Clanricarde I did not think looked very well; Lady Ashley, Lady Fanny, Lady Wilhelmina, and Lady Mary Grimston looked extremely pretty. Strauss played delightfully the whole evening in the Saloon. After staying a little while in the Saloon, we went and sat down in the further drawing-room, next to the dining-room. I sat on a sofa between Princesse Schwartzenberg and Mme. Stroganoff[557]; Lord Melbourne sitting next Mme. Stroganoff, and in a little while Esterhazy near him, and Furstenberg (who talked amazingly to Lord Melbourne, and made us laugh a good deal) behind him. The Duchess of Sutherland and the Duchess of Northumberland sat near Princess Schwartzenberg, and a good many of the other Ambassadors and Ambassadresses were seated near them. The Duchess of Cambridge and Mamma were opposite to us; and all the others in different parts of the room. Several gentlemen, foreigners, came up behind the sofa to speak to me. We talked and laughed a good deal together. I stayed up till a ¼ to 1. It was a successful evening....

Wednesday, 1st August.—I asked Lord Melbourne if he saw any likeness in me to the Duke of Gloucester; he said none whatever; for that when formerly they wished to make me angry, they always said I was like him. I asked if Lord Melbourne remembered the Duke’s father; he said he did; that he was a very good man, but also very dull and tiresome. His two brothers were Edward, Duke of York, who died long before Lord Melbourne was born, and Henry, the Duke of Cumberland. “The Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Cumberland always remained Whigs,” Lord Melbourne said, “and never could understand the King’s (George III.) change; they said the Whigs brought their Family to this country; they went with the King but could not understand it.” Lord Melbourne said, “Whenever George IV. took offence at the church, he used to say, ‘By God, my Uncle the Duke of Cumberland was right when he told me, The people you must be apprehensive of, are those black-legged gentlemen.’” I said to Lord Melbourne that Princess Sophia Matilda told me that George III. had four illnesses. Lord Melbourne said they were not all declared illnesses. The 1st, he said, was in 1788; the 2nd in 1800, then in 1804, which was not exactly allowed to be so; and the last in ’10, when he never got well again; it is said, Lord Melbourne told me, that he had been ill in the early part of his reign; as early as 63 or 4, but no one knows exactly; he had a very bad fever then. I observed that the Cheltenham Waters, it was said, brought it on the first time. Lord Melbourne said, so it was said, but that he did very odd things when he first went down there.... He used to give, Lord Melbourne said, all the orders before his being ill with perfect composure. Whenever he was going to be ill, the King heard—Lord Melbourne continued—perpetually ringing in his ears, one of Handel’s oratorios; and was constantly thinking of Octavius[558] who died, “of whom he (the King) said, ‘Heaven will be no Heaven to me if my Octavius isn’t there.’” But his “master delusion,” as Lord Melbourne expressed it, was thinking that he was married to Lady Pembroke (Lady Elizabeth Spencer that was, and Mother to the late Lord Pembroke, and who only died 7 or 8 years ago), with whom he had been very much in love in his young days, and very near marrying. I told Lord Melbourne I remembered going to see her when she was ninety, and she was very handsome even then. Lord Melbourne then told me how very near George III. was marrying Lady Sarah Lennox,[559] sister to the late Duke of Richmond, who was excessively handsome. Lord Melbourne said he was only prevented from marrying her “by her levity.” This was quite early in his reign. He told Lady Susan Strangways, Lord Ilchester’s Aunt, “Don’t you think I ought to marry a Subject? I think I ought; and that must be your friend” (meaning Lady Sarah Lennox); “and you may tell her so from me.” “Then,” Lord Melbourne continued, “she” (Lady Sarah) “committed every sort of folly; she entered into a flirtation with the Marquis of Lothian, rode out with him after a masquerade quite early in the morning; this was represented to the King, and détournée’d His Majesty a little,” said Lord Melbourne laughing. Nothing could equal the beauty of the Women at that time, said Lord Melbourne, from all the accounts he heard, the Duchess of Argyll and Lady Coventry, sisters,[560] &c....

Sunday, 5th August.—Spoke of Lord Alfred’s[561] having gone to see his father’s leg, which is buried at Waterloo, and of 100 old women having come to see him get into his carriage when they heard whose son he was. We spoke of all this; of Sir H. Vivian’s suffering much now, Lord Melbourne said, in consequence of a severe blow he got at Waterloo “by a spent grape shot.” Lord Melbourne went over to Brussels almost immediately after the battle of Waterloo, to see Sir Frederic Ponsonby[562] who was dreadfully wounded, stabbed through and through; Lord Melbourne said, though he lived for 20 years afterwards, he certainly died in consequence of these wounds. I asked Lord Melbourne if he didn’t think Johnson’s Poetry very hard; he said he did, and that Garrick said, “Hang it, it’s as hard as Greek.” His Prose he admires, though he said pedantry was to be observed throughout it; and Lord Melbourne thinks what he said superior to what he wrote. In spite of all that pedantry, Lord Melbourne said, “a deep feeling and a great knowledge of human nature” pervaded all he said and wrote....

Tuesday, 7th August.—I asked him if he had seen Pozzo, which he told me in the evening he was going to do; he said he had, and it was about the Pasha of Egypt[563]; and he said Russia would go quite with England in the whole affair and quite approved of England’s intention of sending a Fleet there; at the same time, Lord Melbourne said, he stated distinctly, that if we didn’t send a Fleet, they would be obliged to march an Army into Turkey for its protection; but, Lord Melbourne said he hoped, from what he saw by the last despatches, that the Pasha had given up the idea of declaring his Independence. “I think he only tried it,” Lord Melbourne said, “to see what effect it would make!” Lord Melbourne said he had also seen Lord Palmerston, and had spoken to him about these Belgian Affairs, which they still hope, in spite of many difficulties, to settle; and they have now satisfied Sebastiani,[564] who, Lord Melbourne said, was of a jealous disposition and thought they were going on without him with Bülow[565]; Lord Palmerston had only got from Van de Weyer a statement of this Debt,[566] Lord Melbourne said; but that it would be impossible to alter; I expressed a fear of the Belgians resisting. Lord Melbourne said (which is quite true) that it would be very awkward if Uncle Leopold came over just in the midst of these Conferences, which would have the effect, as if he came for that purpose, and which Lord Melbourne said would prevent their acting as much for his interests as they otherwise might do. I said I quite felt it; but that Lord Melbourne had best send for Stockmar and get him to settle it with the King....

Sunday, 12th August.—Saw Stockmar for a little while, and then took leave of this good and kind friend, which I was really sorry to do. He told me he had been to see Lord Melbourne, and he said I should have (what I have always had) the greatest confidence in Lord Melbourne, and ask his advice, not only in Political Matters, but in domestic affairs,—and ask his advice just like a Father, which are quite my feelings. Lord Melbourne was very funny about the Statue of the Duke of Wellington which is put up (in wood) only as a Trial, on the Archway on Constitution Hill,[567] and which we think looks dreadful and much too large; but Lord Melbourne said he thought a statue would look well there, and that it should be as large. We then observed what a pity Wyatt should do the statue, as we thought he did them so ill; and we mentioned George III.’s; but Lord Melbourne does not dislike that, and says it’s exactly like George III., and like his way of bowing.[568] He continued, “I never will have anything to do with Artists; I wished to keep out of it all; for they’re a waspish set of people....”

Tuesday, 14th August.—I went and fetched the Speech, and he read it to me, in his beautiful, clear manner, and with that fine voice of his, and full of fine expression. I always feel that I can read it better when I have heard him read it. The Speech is, as Lord Melbourne said, “not long and safe.”

Wednesday, 15th August.—Lady Normanby then practised putting on my crown, for to-morrow. After this I read my Speech twice over, in my crown. Played and sang. Wrote. Wrote my journal. I forgot to say that I got in the morning, 2 notes from Lord Melbourne in which it seemed almost certain that the Prorogation could only take place on Friday; but at a little before 2 I got another note from him, in which he said that he heard from Lord John, it could take place next day, and therefore, that there would be a Council. I asked Lord Melbourne if it ever had been usual for the Sovereign to read the Speech after the Prime Minister had done so at the Council, as Lord Lansdowne had twice asked that question. Lord Melbourne said, never; but that the late King had done it once, when he was in a great state of irritation, and had said, “I will read it myself, paragraph by paragraph.” This was the last time the late King ever prorogued Parliament in person. I asked if Brougham was in the House; he said no, he was gone. I told him I heard Brougham had asked Lady Cowper down to Brougham Hall; but that she wouldn’t go; I asked if she knew him (Brougham) well; Lord Melbourne said very well, and “I’ve known him all my life; he can’t bear me now; he won’t speak to me; I’ve tried to speak to him on ordinary subjects in the House of Lords, but he won’t answer, and looks very stern”; Lord Melbourne said, laughing, “Why, we’ve had several severe set-to’s, and I’ve hit him very hard.” I asked if he (B.) didn’t still sit on the same bench with Lord Melbourne. “Quite on the gangway; only one between,” replied Lord Melbourne. Lord Melbourne and I both agreed that it was since the King’s death that Brougham was so enraged with Lord Melbourne; for, till then, he would have it that it was the King’s dislike to him (and the King made no objection whatever to him, Lord Melbourne told me) and not Lord Melbourne; “he wouldn’t believe me,” Lord M. said; and now he’s undeceived. Brougham always, he said, used to make a great many speeches. I observed that I thought if his daughter was to die, he would go mad; but Lord Melbourne doesn’t think so; and said, “A man who is always very odd never goes really mad.”

Thursday, 16th August.—“You were rather nervous,”[569] said Lord Melbourne; to which I replied, dreadfully so; “More so than any time,” he continued. I asked if it was observed; he said, “I don’t think anyone else would have observed it, but I could see you were.” Spoke of my fear of reading it too low, or too loud, or too quick; “I thought you read it very well,” he said kindly. I spoke of my great nervousness, which I said I feared I never would get over. “I won’t flatter Your Majesty that you ever will; for I think people scarcely ever get over it; it belongs to a peculiar temperament, sensitive and susceptible; that shyness generally accompanies high and right feelings,” said Lord Melbourne most kindly; he was so kind and paternal to me. He spoke of my riding, which he thought a very good thing. “It gives a feeling of ease the day one has done with Parliament,” said Lord Melbourne. He spoke of the people in the Park when I went to the House; and I said how very civil the people were—always—to me; which touched him; he said it was a very good thing; it didn’t do to rely too much on those things, but that it was well it was there. I observed to Lord Melbourne how ill and out of spirits the Duke of Sussex was; “I have ended the Session in great charity,” said Lord Melbourne, “with the Duke of Wellington, but I don’t end it in charity with those who didn’t vote with the Duke when he voted with us”; we spoke of all that; “The Duke is a very great and able man,” said Lord Melbourne, “but he is more often wrong than right.” Lord Holland wouldn’t allow this; “Well, let’s throw the balance the other way,” continued Lord Melbourne, “but when he is wrong he is very wrong.”

Friday, 17th August.—I then told Lord Melbourne that I had so much to do, I didn’t think I possibly could go to Windsor on Monday; he said if I put off going once for that reason, I should have to put it off again, which I wouldn’t allow; I said there were so many things to go, and to pack,—and so many useless things; “I wouldn’t take those useless things,” said Lord Melbourne laughing. I then added that he couldn’t have an idea of the number of things women had to pack and take; he said many men had quite as much,—which I said couldn’t be, and he continued that Lord Anglesey had 36 trunks; and that many men had 30 or 40 different waistcoats, and neck-cloths, to choose from; which made me laugh; I said a man couldn’t really want more than 3 or 4 coats for some months. He said in fact 6 were enough for a year,—but that people had often fancies for more. I said our dresses required such smooth packing; “Coats ought to be packed smooth,” replied Lord Melbourne. I asked Lord Melbourne if Pozzo had spoken at all about the Belgian affairs. He said he told him he wouldn’t meddle with them at all. Spoke of Pozzo’s disliking Lord Palmerston, who didn’t, he fancied, treat him with enough égard; and Lord Melbourne said Palmerston keeps them waiting sometimes for a long while,—which, though they say they don’t mind it, they do mind; and we both agreed that he was a little apt to sneer sometimes, and to make it appear absurd what people said. I said, independent of Uncle’s coming—hurting his interests in the Conferences—his own country was in too disturbed a state to do so[570]; Lord Melbourne said whatever would be done would be attributed to Uncle’s presence; that justice must be done to Belgium; but that there was such a desire in the Cabinet to settle the affair, that they wouldn’t be disposed to listen to any unreasonable demands of Belgium; I said one felt less anxious reading the Speech at the close than at the beginning of the Session. Lord Melbourne said he didn’t know; “The responsibility is so much greater during the Vacations; when Parliament is sitting one comes at once to Parliament; one has that to go to, and hears the worst at once....”

Sunday, 19th August.—Spoke of the Phœnix Park being considered unwholesome; of its being drained by what they call the Sub-soil-plough. He repeated the anecdote about Lord Talbot; the present Lord Talbot—(I believe I have already noted down the anecdote as he told it me twice before, but am not quite sure)—asked someone why they had never thought of draining the Phœnix Park, and they replied, “Why, your Ancestors were so much employed in draining the Country, that they had no time to think of draining the Park.” He said Talleyrand told an anecdote of a lady in the time of the Revolution who was speaking of what she would be, and she said, “Paysanne, oui; mais Bourgeoise, jamais.” I said to Lord Melbourne I was afraid he disliked the Germans, as he was always laughing at them, which he wouldn’t allow at all and laughed much. He said, “I’ve a great opinion of their talents, but not of their beauty.” He asked if I had seen Mr. MacNeill’s[571] despatches giving an account of his going into Herat at night; I replied, I had not; Lord Melbourne said it was a very curious and even fearful account, his going through these Barbaric Armies at night, 9 o’clock, all the Persians without, prepared for the Attack, and all those within, for Defence; and he gave an interesting account of one of the principal persons in Herat; Mr. MacNeill said he found them quite disposed to negotiate, but when he returned to the Shah’s camp, he found the Russian Ambassador there, and the Shah would listen to nothing; so Mr. MacNeill came away. Spoke of not liking the Cathedral Service and all that singing, and Lord Melbourne said, “It is inconsistent with a calm and right devotion; it’s papistical, and theatrical.”[572]

Monday, 20th August.—Spoke of Pozzo’s being very civil to Lord Melbourne; Lord Melbourne said, “He’s very fond of me,” upon which I said, “I don’t wonder at that,” which made Lord Melbourne smile. He continued, that Lord Palmerston gave Pozzo rather unnecessary offence by not treating him with respect and égard, which those sensitive Corsicans and Italians expect. I said to Lord Melbourne, I felt often ashamed at being so ignorant about many things, and at being obliged to ask him about so many things. He replied most kindly, “Oh! no, you know everything very well; it’s impossible for anybody to know everything that it is right for them to know.” We spoke of the Archduke Charles, who, as Mr. Macgregor told Lord Melbourne, “and as we know,” he said, was a most able man, but wouldn’t take the slightest part in public affairs. We spoke of how many brothers there are still alive: Archduke Charles, Archduke Palatine, Archduke John, Archduke Rainer, and Archduke Louis. Spoke of Hayter’s Picture, and of his having made the Duchess of Sutherland so like already. Spoke of the Duchess of Sutherland’s features being large, which he agreed in; but that he liked large features, for that people with small features and “Squeeny noses” never did anything. Spoke of the business of the Army, which Lord Melbourne said he was afraid Lord Howick would bring on, and that there would be a good deal of difficulty about it. Lord Howick, he says, has pledged himself about it, and is displeased with the Horse-Guards. He (Lord Howick) is very indiscreet in the House of Commons, Lord Melbourne said. He has written Lord Melbourne a letter about this Army business, which Lord Melbourne told him he would answer; but he begged Lord Melbourne not to write to him, as long as he was at Spa,—as the letter would be read. I said I hoped Lord Melbourne had never found me indiscreet, or that I had ever repeated things which I ought not to have done. He said, “Not at all; no one is so discreet,” and that it was impossible sometimes to help letting out things. I then also begged him always to tell me, when he heard anything, might it be agreeable or disagreeable, and that he should never be afraid of telling me so; which he promised to do.[573]

Tuesday, 21st August.—Lord Melbourne said he had seen Lord Palmerston, who told him he hoped to be able soon to bring this Belgian business[574] to a sort of conclusion; that he had had several conversations with Bülow, and Senfft,[575] “who seems a very fair man”; and that they think they may settle this Debt, and satisfy the Belgians by this slight change. “Then I talked to him,” continued Lord Melbourne, “about the King’s coming, and that it would be more for the disadvantage of his Interests.” I then spoke of my having received such an odd present of a Kitten in the morning, which made him laugh. (I got a basket, which they said came from Sir Henry Wheatley, and which I thought was full of flowers, and when my Maid opened it, we found a pretty little Kitten in it—which some poor people sent me as a present.)

Monday, 27th August.—Of Uncle Leopold; when he married Princess Charlotte; Lord Melbourne hadn’t the slightest acquaintance with her, and never had spoken to her. She never came to her father at that time. Lord M. said he never went near the Princess of Wales, for he said considering that he opposed the Regent so much in Parliament, he didn’t wish to oppose him in his quarrels with his Wife; for, he said, he had been so much with the Prince of Wales, and was so much attached to him, that he thought that would have been wrong.

Tuesday, 28th August.—Lord Melbourne then read me a letter from Lord John about all this Belgian business; he says that he won’t support Belgium in its new claims. Lord Melbourne said, “It’s very well of John saying he won’t support,” and so forth, but that it would be impossible for us not to take one side; our interests would compel us to do so; they lay so much with the Low Countries; England, he said, could never permit France to have possession of Antwerp, which was such a great Maritime place. He then read me a letter from Lord Minto relative to an alarm which prevails, and which was caused, Lord Melbourne says, by a speech the Duke of Wellington made in the House, about the weakness of our Naval force; which Lord Minto quite disclaims. Lord Melbourne sent him a paper of Sir Robert Inglis’s[576] about the Russian, French, and American Fleets; which Lord Minto says is quite erroneous; Lord Minto states that in a very few weeks, he could be quite ready for war; Lord M. says, what countries generally ruin themselves with, is, keeping up their Naval and Military Establishments during the time of peace; and he said, “Better be at War then.”[577] He owned that the Russians sending their fleet to the Black Sea “certainly is far from pleasant.” Then I spoke of Lord Ponsonby’s great alarm about Russian Influence, which Lord Melbourne said always was the case. Spoke of Queen Charlotte’s having been supposed to have had a great many presents which she was fond of, from Mrs. Hastings[578]; and Lord Melbourne said the King was thought rather to go with Hastings, who was accused and tried for misdemeanours in India. There was an ivory bed-stead Queen Charlotte got, which Lord M. believed was at Frogmore now. Spoke of Queen Adelaide’s having got all those Shawls which the King of Oude sent. This led us to speak of the Crown Jewels; of there not being many, yet more than I ever wished to wear, of my not liking those sort of things. Lord M. said he didn’t like a profusion of them, but thought a few fine ones the best. Spoke of the Jewels which Queen Charlotte left to her daughters. Lord Melbourne said the Queen Consort can do with her own things what she pleases; can make her own Will, and “is a femme seule,” for no other woman can—all is her husband’s. Lord Melbourne (in reply to my question when he first knew George IV.) said, as soon as he could remember any one; he was 4 when the King was 21, in ’83, when Lord Melbourne’s father was first put about the Prince of Wales. “He used to be at Whitehall, or Piccadilly[579] where we then lived, morning, noon and night,” Lord Melbourne said; and he used to come down to Brocket; he always was fond of children and took notice of them; I said he took notice of me; I observed how much more submissive we were to him than to the late King; Lord Melbourne said George IV. had more power. Lord Melbourne said none of the Royal Family could marry without the Sovereign’s leave since the Marriage Act, passed early in George III.’s reign, in consequence, Lord Melbourne believes, of the Duke of Cumberland’s marrying a Mrs. Luttrell[580] which was very much disliked; else the Duke of Sussex might have married Lady Augusta, and the late King Mrs. Jordan, Lord Melbourne said. The member of the Royal Family, Lord Melbourne continued, gives notice to the Privy Council of his intention to marry, and if they don’t disapprove, it’s supposed the King will consent. Lord Melbourne said it was a difficult subject the marriage of the Royal Family; marrying a subject was inconvenient, and there was inconvenience in foreigners; “It was very often done” (marrying subjects); “Kings did it; and I don’t know there was any harm in it,” said Lord Melbourne. Anne Hyde was the last who married a Prince who became King, and that was considered a dreadful thing. Lord M. said he had been looking at some of those letters [George III.’s] to Lord North which seemed to him very ill written,[581] both as to hand and style, and in bad English. Lord North was a great favourite of George IV.’s, Lord Melbourne said; “Lord North was a very easy, good-natured man,” and the King knew him “when he first came in to life.” Lord Thurlow, whom Mr. Pitt beat and turned out in ’93,[582] turned to George IV. and became also a great favourite of his. He was clever but ill-tempered, Lord Melbourne said.

Wednesday, 29th August.—Lord Melbourne said he had been looking at those letters to Lord North, and found on closer examination that they were written with much more practical knowledge and knowledge of men than he had at first thought. The letters he has been reading are relative to a Negotiation which the King entered into, with the Opposition, in order to strengthen the Government; and Lord Melbourne related several parts of it, which made him smile and which he said were true enough. Lord Melbourne said he (George III.) couldn’t bear Mr. Fox, for that he says in one of these letters that he (Lord North) might offer him any situation which did not bring him in immediate contact with the King, or into the Closet; and as he (Mr. Fox) never had any principles, he wouldn’t have any difficulty in changing. These letters prove, Lord Melbourne said, what strong personal dislikes the King had. These letters to Lord North, Lord M. thinks, were returned to George IV. by Mrs. Douglas on the death of her husband, who was the son of Lady Glenbervie, Lord North’s daughter; Lord North had three daughters, Lady Glenbervie, Lady Sheffield, and Lady Charlotte Lindsay (whom I know); all very clever, Lord M. says. He had 3 sons, George (who was a very pleasant, lively man and a great bon-vivant, Lord M. says), Frederic, and Frank; who were all in succession Earls of Guilford. The present Lord is son to Lord North’s brother[583] who was a Bishop, Lord M. told me. Lord North died in ’93, and Lord M. remembers seeing him (when Lord M. was a boy) led into the House of Lords, quite blind, at Hastings’ trial; he was Lord Guilford for a very short time.

Lord M. does not think that George III. was very fond of Mr. Pitt. Spoke of the violent dislikes George III. and George IV. had; William IV. had them also, but Lord M. said they were easily got over. Spoke of George III.’s hand-writing; of mine, which Lord M. thinks very legible and generally very good; of my inclination to imitate hand-writings, and people,—which Lord M. said, showed quickness, and was in the Family; of George IV.’s mimickry. I said I kept a journal, which, as Lord Melbourne said, is very laborious, but a very good thing; for that it was astonishing in transacting business, how much one forgot, and how one forgot why one did the things.

Thursday, 30th August.— ... I gave Lord M. this Pamphlet of Sir H. Taylor’s which Mamma lent me. We talked about many things, and in going home I asked Lord M. how long Lord North had been Prime Minister to George III.; “From ’70 till ’82,” he told me. “The Duke of Grafton” (who preceded him, and was the present Duke of Grafton’s father) “went away,” Lord M. continued, “without telling any body and without telling the King; they were difficult times, and he went away; I know why he went away, people are always doing those foolish things; and the King didn’t know what to do; he sent for Lord Gower”[584] (I forget what he was), who, I think Lord M. said, refused it; “and then he sent for his Chancellor of the Exchequer” (Lord North) “and made him his Prime Minister.” Lord M. spoke of Dr. Keate, and told me an anecdote of him and George III.; and then he said that Dr. Keate couldn’t bear to be reminded of his boyish days at Eton; somebody, who Lord M. knows, reminded Keate when he was walking across the School-Yard with him, of the window, pointing at it, out of which they had often jumped, upon which Dr. Keate said, “Don’t mention it; it’s a very foolish remark.”

Friday, 31st August.—Lord M. then said, that the French were going to send out a fleet to Mexico, with which State they have been in a quarrel for some time,—and that they meant to send the Prince de Joinville with it, to ask for reparation, and if not, to attack the fort of Aloa which commands the river, and which it would not be agreeable for us if the French were to possess; and Lord Palmerston proposes we should send a swift sailing Vessel to Mexico to apprize the Mexicans of what was to take place and to advise them to make reparation. And also, Lord P. proposes sending a Vessel to Guiana, where the French are making great encroachments, and to see what they are about.

H.R.H. The Duc de Nemours
from a portrait by Eugene Lami

Lady Cork[585] is 92, a very strange old woman; Lord M. knows her; she was clever, a great favourite of George III. and Queen Charlotte. She was a Miss Monckton, sister to Lord Galway, he said. Lord M. said in returning Dr. Hook’s sermon (which I sent him to read) when he came in, that it was eager, but nothing very particular, and able. Lady Holland seems “very fond of Senfft,” Lord M. observed; “she would settle that Embassy too, as she does every thing else,” he said laughing. Lord M. said, in speaking of Taylor’s pamphlet,[586] “There is no force in it; it isn’t pointed.” Taylor is very fond of writing, he says, and fancies he writes well. Spoke of Lady C. Bury’s book.[587] Lord M. says these things make less impression than people fancy; they “make a day’s noise; but nobody minds them much.” Spoke of Lady Anne Hamilton,[588] who attended Queen Caroline at her Trial; Lady Charlotte Lindsay gave evidence. “Lord Egremont said,” continued Lord M., “‘As for Guilford,[589] he twaddled like a waiting maid when he gave evidence; but his Sister lied like a man,’” which made us both laugh very much. Spoke of Kenney,[590] who is Author (Lord M. told me) of Love, Law, and Physic, and Raising the Wind, and is at Holland House. Spoke of my knowing Rogers and Moore; having seen Scott and Southey. Lord M. rather admires Southey’s works, and thinks his Life of Nelson very pretty. Spoke of his Life of Cowper. Spoke of a new book lying on the table, sent to me by Granville Penn,[591] which Lord M. looked at and said he thought might be curious; it is the Life of Sir William Penn, Admiral in Cromwell’s time, and who, with Venables, took Jamaica. Spoke of Mrs. Hutchinson’s Memoirs of Colonel Hutchinson, which Lord M. thinks very curious; spoke of her violence; spoke of Clarendon’s book which Lord M. said “is a fine book.” I observed there were few books on the Parliamentary side; he replied few at the time, but a good many since. He mentioned one by Brodie, a Scotchman; Bishop Burnet’s Memoirs of his own time, during Charles II.’s reign; and he said, “There is a book which I think would amuse Your Majesty, and would be of use to you, and which isn’t long, which is Guizot’s account of the Revolution.” It’s only in 2 vols., and is a summary of whole thing, he said.

Lord M. said Lady Holland was a great friend of Pozzo’s, and that his first acquaintance with Pozzo was at Holland House. I asked if she knew Sebastiani; he said she did, but didn’t like him much, except from his connection with Napoleon “whom she adored.” She never knew Napoleon, Lord Melbourne added, but saw him at Paris at the Peace of Amiens. She used to send him things she knew he liked, said Lord M.; when he was at St. Helena she sent him gâteaux and chocolate, &c. “She was half on his side,” Lord M. continued, “if not more.” Spoke of Lady E. Wortley’s[592] admiration for Napoleon. Soult was no friend of Napoleon, Lord M. said; none of them, he continued, were to be compared to Napoleon himself; the two best after Napoleon, Lord M. said, were Dessaix who was killed at Marengo, and Kleber who was murdered in Egypt.

I asked Lord M. what Lord Gower, whom he mentioned to me before, was; that Lord Gower, he said, was the Duke of Sutherland’s grandfather; he was “Lord Privy Seal” when the King sent for him.[593] “He did not think himself equal to it” (being Prime Minister); “he was a man who took great part in politics.” Lord M. also told me that he believes the present Lord Bute to be the great-grandson of the Minister of George III. “George III. found the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Pitt, and everything was going on very well, when he was advised to change; he couldn’t bear Mr. Pitt; who was afterwards Lord Chatham; and he took Lord Bute in his place; and then followed all that unpopularity.” I asked if these letters of George III. showed great confidence in Lord North; Lord M. said “they show a great liking for him, more than a great confidence.” That the King never seemed to think him strong enough; Lord North, all along, Lord M. continued, was pursuing a Policy contrary to what he himself approved, but which he was urged to by the King: and Lord North remonstrated very much with the King. The difference, Lord M. observed before, between George IV. and his father, was, that the former (which Knighton’s Memoirs show, Lord M. said) always required somebody to lean upon, whereas the latter always wished to act for himself, and only yielded, but said at the same time he disliked doing it. He never would have yielded on the Catholic Question, Lord M. continued, nor would the Duke of York; the late King was for it; but George IV. did it very unwillingly. George III. was deeply hurt at the loss of the American provinces, which I observed was no wonder; I said I thought it was his fault. Lord M. said most likely it was; but that it was impossible any longer to keep up the great Colonial Policy, namely that they should exclusively trade with England and make nothing for themselves; even Lord Chatham, Lord M. said, who all along advocated their cause, “said they shouldn’t drive one hob-nail for themselves.” The Separation was easily done, they had nothing to do but to declare it. Lord M. continued that the first settlers were composed of people who left England in discontent,—of dissenters &c., and consequently no loyal people could spring from them. Spoke of the people whom William III. ennobled, which I’ve no time to enumerate. He told a most absurd anecdote of a very fat little porter at Lansdowne House. “He is a leading man in all the Parish Debates,” said Lord M.; “and somebody told Albemarle, ‘He speaks very well; to tell you the truth he speaks very like my lord.’”

END OF VOL. I

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Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.

FOOTNOTES

[1] In later years the volumes of the Queen’s Journals were of larger size, but they were always simply bound in half calf or half morocco.

[2] They were ultimately paid by the Queen immediately after her accession.

[3] Kensington Palace.

[4] The Journal was written in pencil and inked over afterwards.

[5] Edward, first Earl of Powis (1754–1839), was the eldest son of the great Lord Clive; his eldest son, afterwards second Earl, married Lucy, daughter of the third Duke of Montrose; his second son, Robert Clive, M.P., married Harriet, younger daughter of the fifth Earl of Plymouth: these are the ladies referred to in the text. The barony of Windsor, which had fallen into abeyance, was afterwards terminated in favour of Lady Harriet Clive.

[6] Lady Catherine Jenkinson, elder daughter of the third Earl of Liverpool, was married later to Colonel Francis Vernon Harcourt, son of the Archbishop of York and Equerry to the Duchess of Kent.

[7] Sir Richard Bulkeley, tenth Baronet, M.P. for Anglesey, afterwards Lord Lieutenant of Carnarvonshire. He had just married Maria Frances, daughter of Sir Thomas Stanley-Massy-Stanley.

[8] Lady Williams, wife of Sir John Williams of Bodelwyddan, first Baronet.

[9] Daughter of Sir John Conroy, Comptroller to the Duchess of Kent.

[10] Louise Lehzen became Governess to Princess Victoria in 1824. In 1827 George IV. created her a Hanoverian Baroness. When in 1830 the Duchess of Northumberland was made the Princess’ Governess, her “faithful Lehzen” remained on as Lady in Waiting. She stayed at Court till 1842, when she returned to Germany.

[11] Sir John Williams, afterwards Sir John Williams-Hay, second Baronet, of Bodelwyddan.

[12] Robert, Earl Grosvenor (1767–1845), had in 1831 been created Marquess of Westminster; he had married Eleanor, only daughter of Thomas, first Earl of Wilton. Richard, Lord Grosvenor, their eldest son, married Elizabeth Mary, daughter of the first Duke of Sutherland; Thomas, the second son, inherited, under a special remainder, his grandfather’s Earldom of Wilton, and married Mary Margaret, daughter of Edward, twelfth Earl of Derby.

[13] Wife of Sir Philip Grey Egerton, and daughter of George John Legh, of High Legh, Cheshire.

[14] Robert, third son of Lord Westminster, at this time M.P. for Chester and afterwards for Middlesex, was created in 1857 Lord Ebury.

[15] Elinor, afterwards Duchess of Northumberland.

[16] Gilbert le Grosvenator, nephew of Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester.

[17] Joan (temp. Henry VI.), only daughter and heiress of John Eton of Eton (now Eaton), married Raufe le Grosvenor, Lord of Hulme.

[18] Sir Thomas Grosvenor, third Baronet, M.P. for Chester, married Mary, only daughter and heiress of Alexander Davis, of Ebury, Middlesex. She died in 1730.

[19] William Spencer, sixth Duke of Devonshire. His mother was Georgiana, famous for her beauty and its influence over George IV. and Lord Grey. The sixth Duke inherited from his mother his Whig proclivities. He was a patron of arts and letters. Devonshire House under his bachelor rule was a centre of hospitality. That the Duke never married, notwithstanding his admiration of the fair sex, gave rise to much speculation and gossip.

[20] William, Lord Cavendish, grandson of George Augustus Henry, first Earl of Burlington, and great-grandson of the fourth Duke of Devonshire. In 1858 he became the seventh Duke, and died in 1891. He married in 1829 Blanche Georgiana, daughter of the sixth Earl of Carlisle. He was beloved and respected by all who were privileged to know him. In the spheres of education and science his quiet activities were not unremarked. He was an admirable landlord and a most efficient man of affairs. For his careful education of his eldest son, the Marquess of Hartington, the nation owes him a large debt of gratitude.

[21] Thomas, seventh Earl of Newburgh, married 1817 Margaret, daughter of the Marquess of Ailsa. Died 1833.

[22] Rt. Hon. William S. S. Lascelles, M.P., third son of the second Earl of Harewood, married Caroline Georgiana, eldest daughter of the sixth Earl of Carlisle.

[23] James Archibald (1776–1845), first Lord Wharncliffe, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John, first Earl of Erne.

[24] George William, Lord Morpeth, afterwards seventh Earl of Carlisle, a prominent but comparatively undistinguished member of every Whig Administration from 1835 to 1864.

[25] Sister of Lord Cavendish (afterwards seventh Duke of Devonshire) referred to above. She became the wife of F. J. Howard, M.P. for Youghal.

[26] Sir Augustus Clifford, formerly Usher of the Black Rod, married Elizabeth Frances, sister of the fourth Marquess Townshend.

[27] Afterwards wife of Charles William Grenfell, M.P.

[28] Henry Manners, third Lord Waterpark.

[29] John, sixteenth Earl of Shrewsbury (1791–1852).

[30] Lord Liverpool’s second daughter, married, first, to Lord Milton, secondly to George Savile Foljambe, of Osberton, Notts.

[31] Louisa, third daughter of Lord Liverpool, married John Cotes of Woodcote, Salop.

[32] Francis, first Lord Churchill, third son of George, fourth Duke of Marlborough.

[33] Montagu, fifth Earl of Abingdon, married Emily, sister of the third Viscount Gage.

[34] Sir John Conroy.

[35] Thomas Gaisford, Dean of Christ Church, 1831–1855.

[36] Philip Nicholas Shuttleworth, afterwards (1840–1842) Bishop of Chichester.

[37] George, Viscount Cantelupe (1814–1850), died in the lifetime of his father, the fifth Earl de la Warr.

[38] Jacob, afterwards fourth Earl of Radnor (1815–1889).

[39] John Henry, afterwards third Marquess of Ely (1814–1857). His wife was in after-years Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, and perhaps the most widely known of her ladies.

[40] Probably Henry Edward Hall Gage (1814–1875), eldest son of the fourth Viscount Gage, in whose lifetime he died.

[41] Charles Canning (1812–1862), afterwards Viscount Canning and Governor-General of India.

[42] Lord Thomas Clinton (1813–1882), third son of Henry, fourth Duke of Newcastle, K.G.

[43] Mr. Granville Leveson-Gower, afterwards second Earl Granville (1815–1891), well known as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in Mr. Gladstone’s Administration.

[44] George Henry, afterwards second Earl of Falmouth (1811–1852).

[45] Princess Sophia (1777–1848) was a daughter of George III., and younger sister of Princess Augusta Sophia (1768–1840). See p. 200.

[46] The Very Rev. George Davys, the Princess’s instructor, at this time Dean of Chester, subsequently Bishop of Peterborough.

[47] Richard Westall (1765–1836), an R.A. since 1794 and painter of many historical pictures.

[48] John Bernard Sale (1779–1856), organist of St. Margaret’s, Westminster, and afterwards of the Chapel Royal.

[49] The Duchess of Gloucester. See p. 65.

[50] An attached attendant, to whose memory, after her death, the Queen erected a tablet in St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields. She was dresser to Princess Charlotte.

[51] Thomas Steward, teacher of writing and arithmetic.

[52] M. Grandineau, teacher of French.

[53] Mr. (afterwards Sir) George Hayter (1792–1871), a ceremonial painter of some merit. He was the official limner of two Royal heiresses—i.e. Princess Charlotte and Princess Victoria. He was designated, somewhat equivocally, Painter in Ordinary to the Queen.

[54] William Farren (1786–1861), an actor of distinction himself, and a member of a histrionic family of unusual merit.

[55] Mary, fourth daughter of George III., who married her cousin William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester. She died in 1867. The Queen looked upon her “as a sort of grandmother,” and described her as full of kindness, amiability, and unselfishness.

[56] See post, p. 104.

[57] Charlotte Florentia, daughter of Edward, first Earl of Powis, and wife of Hugh, third Duke of Northumberland, K.G., Governess to the Princess.

[58] Daughter of the eleventh Duke of Somerset, afterwards wife of William Blount, of Orleton, Herefordshire.

[59] The Princess’s dancing-mistress.

[60] William Howley (1766–1848), Bishop of London 1813–28, Primate 1828–48. In the opinion of Lord Grey and the Whigs “a poor, miserable creature,” but in reality a worthy, conscientious prelate.

[61] Lord Brougham.

[62] See ante, p. 53.

[63] Bernard Edward, twelfth Duke of Norfolk (1765–1842). He was given the Garter in 1834—the only K.G. of the Roman faith. He subsequently became a Protestant.

[64] Edward Adolphus, eleventh Duke of Somerset (1775–1855). A personage of no importance.

[65] George, fifth and last Duke of Gordon. A soldier. He fought in Ireland (1798) and at Walcheren (1809). A friend of the Prince Regent and a hard liver, but a high-minded, honourable man. Three of his sisters married the Dukes of Richmond, Manchester, and Bedford. The fourth married the Marquis Cornwallis. These achievements were due to the talents of the old Duchess of Gordon, a Scottish lady of strong character and accent.

[66] John Henry, fifth Duke of Rutland, K.G. (1778–1857), chiefly remarkable as the father of “Henry Sidney,” one of Disraeli’s well-known sketches of contemporary potentates.

[67] Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland in her own right (1765–1839), married George Granville, Viscount Trentham, afterwards second Marquess of Stafford. He was created Duke of Sutherland in January 1833. She was habitually called the “Duchess-Countess” in the family, and is still so called.

[68] William Harry, third Earl of Darlington and first Duke of Cleveland, K.G. See post, p. 98.

[69] See ante, p. 49.

[70] Charles, second Earl Grey, Prime Minister. Lady Grey was Mary Elizabeth, daughter of the first Lord Ponsonby of Imskilly.

[71] Rowland, first Viscount Hill, Commander-in-Chief from 1828 to 1842—an office upon which he left no mark.

[72] Georgiana, second daughter of George, sixth Earl of Carlisle, wife of the Rt. Hon. George James Welbore, first Lord Dover.

[73] Henry, Earl of Uxbridge, afterwards second Marquess of Anglesey, a cavalier of spirit, and possessed of all the dashing qualities of the Paget family.

[74] William Charles, fourth Earl of Albemarle, Master of the Horse. A few days after her accession the Queen sent for him and said, “My Lord, you will immediately provide for me six chargers to review my troops.”

[75] William Pitt, first Earl Amherst, quite inconspicuous as Ambassador to China 1816–17, and Governor-General of India 1823–28.

[76] Mary Anne, wife of Sir Edward Cust, afterwards Master of the Ceremonies to Queen Victoria.

[77] General Sir George Anson, G.C.B., Equerry to the Duchess of Kent, afterwards Groom of the Bedchamber to Prince Albert.

[78] General Sir Frederick Wetherall served on the staff of the Duke of Kent, and was subsequently his equerry and one of the executors of his will.

[79] William Wyon, chief engraver at the Mint, afterwards R.A.

[80] Marie Taglioni (1809–84). Until the invasion of Europe by Russian ballet, Taglioni’s name was the most famous in the annals of classical operatic dancing.

[81] He was President from 1830 to 1850. By his contemporaries he was as much esteemed as Lawrence. America, however, has not yet discovered him.

[82] Henry Howard, appointed Professor of Painting to the Academy in 1833.

[83] Sir William Beechey, R.A. Formerly Portrait Painter to Queen Charlotte, and finely represented at Windsor by a series of charming portraits of Royal children.

[84] Now in the “Corridor” at Windsor Castle.

[85] Sir Charles Eastlake (P.R.A., 1850–65). He was appointed by Sir R. Peel secretary to the Fine Arts Commission, and later still Director of the National Gallery. A typical and meritorious P.R.A.

[86] Sir Edwin Landseer (1802–73). The most popular of British painters.

[87] Sir Augustus Wall Callcott (1779–1844). A chorister of Westminster Abbey; subsequently a painter. Elected R.A. 1810, and knighted 1837.

[88] Henry William Pickersgill, R.A. (1782–75), a fashionable portrait painter, patronised by famous men and women; he exhibited at the Academy for over sixty years. He is now quite forgotten.

[89] William Hilton, R.A., (1786–1839). His work was refined, but, owing to the pigment he used, has practically vanished.

[90] The Duke, who was the eldest son of King Louis Philippe, was born at Palermo in 1810, and in July 1842 was thrown from his phaeton near the Porte Maillot in Paris, and died on the spot. His youth and popularity, his love of art and literature, and his professional efficiency as a soldier might, had he lived, have served to give the events of 1848 a different turn. He was, however, a Bourbon.

[91] Wife of Leopold, King of the Belgians.

[92] The veteran Prince Talleyrand (1754–1838), once Bishop of Autun, Republican, Bonapartist, Legitimist, and cynic; everything by turns and everything remarkably long. See p. 331, and Vol. II. p. 61.

[93] The Duchesse de Dino (Princesse de Sagan), niece of Prince Talleyrand. Her own memoirs have preserved her memory.

[94] Henry, third Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863). A typical and most eminent Whig. He twice refused to be Prime Minister, but held office in every Whig Administration from 1830 to 1858. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Ministry of “All the Talents.” He was a fine judge of art. No statesman of his time was more universally trusted.

[95] George Granville succeeded his father, the first Duke of Sutherland (see ante, p. 68, n.), in July 1833. His wife, Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana, third daughter of the sixth Earl of Carlisle, was the first Mistress of the Robes selected by Queen Victoria.

[96] Charles Augustus (1776–1859), fifth Earl of Tankerville, married Corisande, daughter of Antoine, Duc de Gramont: she possessed great charm of manner and a fine turn of wit. She had many attached friends of both sexes. See Vol. II. p. 221.

[97] William Philip (1772–1838), second Earl of Sefton, married Maria Margaret, daughter of William, sixth Lord Craven.

[98] See ante, p. 49.

[99] Thomas William (1795–1854), second Viscount Anson, had been created in 1831 Earl of Lichfield. He married Louisa Catherine, daughter of Nathaniel Philips, of Slebech Hall, co. Pembroke.

[100] First Earl Granville, youngest son of first Marquess of Stafford (1773–1846), Ambassador to St. Petersburg 1804, and afterwards for many years at Paris. He married the daughter of the fifth Duke of Devonshire.

[101] Lord Palmerston, born 1781, died Prime Minister 1865. Lord Palmerston was now fifty-two years old. In years to come, this child of thirteen was destined to overthrow him, when at the height of his popularity, to receive him again as her Prime Minister, and to turn to him in the great crisis of her life twenty-eight years after their first meeting.

[102] See ante, p. 54.

[103] John William, Lord Duncannon. A Whig placeman. As Earl of Bessborough (1846) he became Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and died in office in 1847.

[104] Hugh, Lord Ebrington, afterwards second Earl Fortescue. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1839–41.

[105] Sylvain Van de Weyer (1802–74), Belgian Minister at the Court of St. James’s, a trusted friend of King Leopold and of Queen Victoria. He had been a prominent leader of the Revolution in Belgium, 1830, and a protagonist of the separation of Belgium and Holland. His wit and charming personality gave him a prominent place in London society. He married the daughter of Joshua Bates, senior partner in Barings.

[106] Edward Geoffrey Stanley (1799–1869), the Rupert of debate, at this time Secretary for the Colonies, afterwards (as Earl of Derby) three times Prime Minister. Mrs. Stanley was Emma Caroline, daughter of Edward, first Lord Skelmersdale.

[107] Mr. Ellice (1781–1863), born at Montreal, M.P. for Coventry and Secretary at War. He had been a very successful Government Whip; nick-named “Bear” Ellice from his connection with the Hudson Bay Company. He married a sister of Earl Grey.

[108] James Abercromby (1776–1858), son of the gallant Sir Ralph Abercromby, who died in the moment of victory at Alexandria in 1801. At this time M.P. for Edinburgh. Became Speaker of the House of Commons in 1835, and was created Lord Dunfermline four years later.

[109] The Baroness Späth, Lady-in-Waiting to the Duchess of Kent.

[110] General Sir Robert Gardiner was Principal Equerry to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg at his marriage with Princess Charlotte. In later life he was Governor and Commander-in-Chief at Gibraltar.

[111] William George Maton, M.D., Physician Extraordinary to the Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria.

[112] George (1819–1904), afterwards Duke of Cambridge and Commander-in-Chief. He was two months older than the Princess, so that he was now fourteen years old.

[113] Arabella, wife of the fourth Earl, a Lady-in-waiting to Queen Adelaide. She was a Miss Mackworth Praed.

[114] Daughters of the eleventh Earl of Pembroke. Lady Emma afterwards married the third Viscount de Vesci, and Lady Georgiana the fourth Marquess of Lansdowne.

[115] Daughters of the fifth Earl of Jersey. Lady Sarah afterwards married Prince Nicholas Esterhazy (see p. 190), eldest son of the famous diplomatist. Lady Clementina died unmarried in 1858.

[116] Younger son of Prince and Princess de Lieven. The Prince had been for over twenty years Russian Minister or Ambassador in London; the Princess was the inveterate correspondent of Earl Grey.

[117] George Guy, afterwards fourth Earl of Warwick, and an A.D.C. to Queen Victoria. Died 1893. At this time he was fifteen years of age.

[118] Charles Henry, Earl of March, afterwards sixth Duke of Richmond and first Duke of Gordon of a new creation. He held several high offices in Conservative Administrations, being Lord President of the Council 1874–80, and Secretary for Scotland 1885–6. He, like Lord Brooke, was about fifteen at this time; and was at Westminster School. In after-years the Queen relied much upon his excellent political judgment.

[119] George, eighth Earl of Athlone (1820–43). The first Earl was Godert de Ginkell, the well-known General of William III.

[120] A younger brother of Lord March; drowned in the President steamer in 1841. He was at this time thirteen years old.

[121] John Frederick, afterwards M.P. for Pembrokeshire and second Earl Cawdor.

[122] Their father was Alexander, Duke of Würtemberg. Prince Alexander afterwards married Princess Marie, daughter of King Louis Philippe; she died in 1839, less than two years after their marriage.

[123] A cousin of the Princess Victoria and of Princes Alexander and Ernst, the mother of the Duchess of Kent, having been a Princess of Reuss-Ebersdorff.

[124] Afterwards Duchess of Argyll.

[125] Afterwards Lady Blantyre.

[126] Lady Caroline Lascelles, and her daughter, afterwards Mrs. Grenfell.

[127] Madame Malibran was now about twenty-five years of age. See post, p. 168.

[128] Henry Lynedoch Gardiner, son of General Sir Robert Gardiner. He was afterwards Equerry in Ordinary to Queen Victoria.

[129] Sir Colin Campbell (1792–1863), afterwards F.-M. Lord Clyde, Commander-in-Chief in India. He saw more active service than any British Field-Marshal before or since. No soldier was ever braver, more merciful, and more modest.

[130] Admiral Williams had rendered valuable services in conjunction with the army in the Low Counties, 1794–5; he was knighted in 1796, and became G.C.B. in 1831.

[131] John George Lambton (1792–1840), the first Baron (and afterwards first Earl of) Durham, son-in-law of Lord Grey, had been Ambassador to St. Petersburg, and was now Lord Privy Seal. Lord Melbourne sent him subsequently to Canada at a critical juncture in the history of British North America. The Ministry afterwards recalled him, but the report which he presented on Canadian affairs is regarded as having laid the foundations of all colonial self-government. He was a statesman of noble, unstained character; but his high-strung temperament made life difficult both for him and his colleagues.

[132] He was sixty-two years of age. See ante, p. 78.

[133] Vice-Admiral Sir Graham Moore (1764–1843), G.C.M.G., afterwards Commander-in-Chief at Plymouth. He had been ordered in 1807–8 to escort the Royal Family of Portugal to Brazil; he married Dora, daughter of Thomas Eden.

[134] Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Lewis Maitland (1776–1839). He commanded the Bellerophon when Napoleon surrendered after Waterloo.

[135] Richard (1764–1839), second Earl, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall.

[136] Sir William Hargood had commanded the Belleisle under Nelson at Trafalgar, becoming an Admiral and G.C.B. in 1831.

[137] Captain Charles Philip Yorke, R.N., then M.P. for Cambs., afterwards fourth Earl of Hardwicke.

[138] Sir John Cameron had had a distinguished record in the Peninsula. From 1823 to 1833 he commanded the Western District.

[139] Adjutant-General, 1830–50.

[140] Donna Maria da Gloria, then aged about fourteen. She was the daughter of Dom Pedro, who had been proclaimed Emperor of Brazil in the lifetime of his father, John VI., and abdicated the throne of Portugal in favour of Donna Maria. Dom Miguel, a younger brother of Pedro, claimed the throne. Pedro had designed a marriage between Donna Maria and Miguel, who in 1827 had been appointed Regent, but, having been himself driven from Brazil by a revolution, Pedro endeavoured to gain the throne decisively for his daughter. His second wife, now known as Duchess of Braganza, was sister to Augustus, Duke of Leuchtenberg, who at the age of twenty-five had married Donna Maria, then barely sixteen, and died two months later. See p. 110.

[141] The death of Ferdinand without male issue caused a disputed succession in Spain. His brother Don Carlos relied on the Salic Law as established by the Pragmatic Sanction of 1711, which Ferdinand had revoked. Don Carlos and Dom Miguel subsequently entered into an alliance, while the young Queens Maria and Isabella mutually recognised each other, and were supported by England and France.

[142] William Charles Macready (1793–1851), afterwards successively manager of Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres.

[143] An actress, and mother of Helen Faucit.

[144] Benjamin Webster, an excellent and humorous comedian from about 1819 to 1874.

[145] Frances Maria Kelly (1790–1882), for many years a popular favourite at Drury Lane, and a friend of Charles and Mary Lamb.

[146] This was the first of many Foreign Orders received by Queen Victoria. They have been carefully collected and arranged by King George and Queen Mary, and are displayed in Queen Mary’s audience room in Windsor Castle.

[147] Lady Theresa Fox-Strangways, elder daughter of the third Earl of Ilchester, afterwards wife of the ninth Lord Digby.

[148] Afterwards Lady Ebury. Sister of the first Earl Cowley. See p. 50.

[149] Giulia Grisi (1815–69) made her début at Florence, aged fourteen. Théophile Gautier said of her that under her spell what was only an opera became a tragedy and a poem. She first appeared in London in 1834. She was afterwards married to the Count of Candia (Mario).

[150] Henry Stephen, third Earl (1787–1812).

[151] Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg (1786–1851), uncle of the Prince Consort.

[152] Charles Emich, Prince Leiningen, son of the Duchess of Kent by her first husband, and half-brother of Princess Victoria.

[153] Emmanuel, Count Mensdorff-Pouilly (1777–1862), husband of Princess Sophia, eldest sister of the Prince Consort’s father and of the Duchess of Kent. An emigrant from France in 1793, he attained high rank in the Austrian service. His sons were intimate companions of the Prince Consort.

[154] Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Coburg (1784–1844), father of the Prince Consort.

[155] See ante, p. 49.

[156] Eldest daughter of Francis, first Marquess of Hastings, Lady of the Bedchamber to the Duchess of Kent. This unfortunate lady died in 1839.

[157] Charles, fifth Duke (1791–1860). As Lord March he is often mentioned in the Duke of Wellington’s correspondence. He was one of the very few male human beings ever alluded to by the Iron Duke in terms of affection. The Duchess was Caroline, daughter of the Marquess of Anglesey.

[158] George Henry (1760–1844), fourth Duke. An obscure Whig potentate.

[159] Charles, fifth Duke, but fourteenth Earl of Dorset, K.G. Master of the Horse in various Tory Administrations. On his death, unmarried, in 1843, his honours (including the Earldom of Middlesex) became extinct. A favourite of George IV. One of the first gentlemen jockeys. He and his brother Germaine were famous at Newmarket as race riders. He established Bibury races. He was of tiny physique, but smart, and a great favourite with ladies.

[160] William Harry, first Duke of Cleveland, of a new creation, a great-grandson in the male line of a daughter of Barbara Palmer, Duchess of Cleveland. He died in 1842, and his income was computed at £110,000 per annum. See ante, p. 68.

[161] Francis, second Marquess (1797–1876), who, three years later, brought to the Princess at Kensington the news of her accession. Lady Conyngham was a daughter of Lord Anglesey.

[162] Second son of William IV. and Mrs. Jordan. The eldest son was created Earl of Munster, 1831; the younger children (except those who had attained higher rank by marriage) were granted the style of younger children of a marquess. Lady Frederick was a daughter of the Earl of Glasgow.

[163] William Basil Percy (1796–1865), seventh Earl of Denbigh, Chamberlain to Queen Adelaide.

[164] Lady Sophia Fitzclarence, daughter of William IV. She married Sir Philip Sidney, afterwards created Lord De l’Isle and Dudley of Penshurst.

[165] Emily, sister of the second Lord Auckland.

[166] See ante, p. 69.

[167] Edward, fourth son of the first Earl Beauchamp.

[168] Afterwards Sir Charles Wood (1800–85) and first Viscount Halifax. Married the daughter of Charles, Earl Grey. He served in many administrations; finally as Secretary of State for India and Lord Privy Seal. A typical Whig statesman of high probity and wisdom.

[169] See ante, p. 86.

[170] Charlotte, daughter of Robert Adamson of Westmeath and wife of Sir Godfrey Vassal Webster, of Battle Abbey, formerly M.P. for Sussex. Sir Godfrey’s mother, Elizabeth Vassal, eloped from her husband with Lord Holland, and was the famous “Old Madagascar” of Holland House coteries.

[171] He was made a baronet in 1838 for this act. See post, p. 355.

[172] William Frederick (1776–1834), second Duke, was the son of William Henry, first Duke, by Maria, Countess-Dowager Waldegrave, illegitimate daughter of Edward Walpole, a younger son of the great Minister. The Duke was an inoffensive man of quiet and mild disposition, familiarly known as “Silly Billy.” He married his cousin, Princess Mary, daughter of George III. He was proud of his rank, but of little else. See ante, p. 65.

[173] Brother of the Duchess of Braganza. See ante, p. 86.

[174] Princess Elizabeth (1770–1840), daughter of George III., widow of Frederick, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg. This Princess settled down into an atmosphere of venerated old age at Homburg. A statue was recently erected there and unveiled by the German Emperor to commemorate her virtues.

[175] Emma Sophia, daughter of the second Earl of Mount Edgecumbe, second wife of John, first Earl Brownlow.

[176] Daughter of William IV. Her husband had been raised to the Peerage in Jan. 1835. See ante, p. 99.

[177] Another daughter of William IV., wife of Lucius, tenth Viscount Falkland.

[178] Richard William Penn (1796–1870), first Earl Howe, Chamberlain to Queen Adelaide. He was believed to have encouraged her in inciting the King against the Ministry of Lord Grey.

[179] William Basil Percy, seventh Earl of Denbigh. See ante, p. 99.

[180] Adelaide Cottage, built for Queen Adelaide, but never occupied by her except as a tea-house. It has been used ever since by successive Sovereigns for a similar purpose. The Cottage stands surrounded by charming gardens in the eastern corner of the private grounds of Windsor Castle.

[181] Luigi Lablache (1794–1858), a first-rate comedian and the finest bass singer of his time. He made his début in London in 1830, in Cimarosa’s opera Il Matrimonio Segreto. He taught Princess Victoria singing, and of all her teachers he was the favourite.

[182] Michael (afterwards Sir Michael) Costa, for many years the conductor of the orchestra at Covent Garden. His musical taste was considerable, but he was famous for his dominating personality, the hauteur of his demeanour, and above all for the perfect fit of his spotless white gloves.

[183] General Sir Frederick Trench had served in Sicily and in the Walcheren expedition, and was afterwards Aide-de-Camp to George IV. He was M.P. for Scarborough at this time. A man of discernment and taste. He advocated a scheme for making an embankment along the Thames from Charing Cross to Blackfriars. He was half a century ahead of his contemporaries!

[184] Augusta, youngest daughter of the Landgrave Frederick of Hesse. She was married to H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge in 1818. “I am the happiest of men,” wrote the Duke to Lady Harcourt from Cassel, soon after his engagement, and he added, “The Princess is really everything both as to heart, mind and person that I could wish.” There never was a happier marriage. This Princess was the mother of George, Duke of Cambridge, Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies, of the Dowager Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and of Princess Mary, Duchess of Teck. She was the grandmother of Queen Mary, and died, regretted by all, in 1889.

[185] Joseph Goodall (1760–1840), Provost of Eton for thirty-one years. An excellent but obscure scholar. It was his misfortune to be the nominal superior of Dr. Keate. He had the temerity on one occasion at Windsor, in the presence of William IV., to tell Sir Henry Halford, who was vain of his scholarship and fond of quoting Latin, that he ought to be whipped for having made a false quantity.

[186] Dr. Hawtrey (1789–1862), Headmaster of Eton for 18 years, he then presided over the college as Provost for another 10. A profound and elegant scholar, a man of lofty ideals, intrepid soul and warm heart, he raised the tone of masters and boys by sheer force of his delightful personality. He doubled the numbers of the school as well as its efficiency and influence.

[187] Countess Mensdorff was the sister of the Duchess of Kent, a Princess of Saxe-Coburg. See ante, p. 95.

[188] Grand Duchess Marie, daughter of the Emperor Paul I. of Russia, married Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, in 1804.

[189] Dr. Charles James Blomfield (1786–1857), a fine scholar, and a Bishop of unusual administrative capacity. His influence in the Church of England, both as Bishop of Chester and Bishop of London, was second to none, until the day of his retirement in 1856. He died at Fulham Palace in August 1857.

[190] She married in 1856 Duke Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein, and was the mother of the present German Empress.

[191] Fanny Kemble, daughter of Charles Kemble, the actor, after attaining considerable success on the stage in England, went to America, and in 1834 married Pierce Butler. In 1835 she published an indiscreet journal which had considerable success.

[192] Edward Vernon-Harcourt (1757–1847), Archbishop of York, was the third son of the first Lord Vernon. He assumed his mother’s name of Harcourt on succeeding to the family estates of Stanton Harcourt and Nuneham Courtenay. He married Anne, third daughter of first Marquess of Stafford. A most sumptuous prelate. He was the grandfather of Sir William Vernon Harcourt, M.P.

[193] Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Granville Harcourt, and wife of Montagu, Lord Norreys, M.P. for Oxfordshire, afterwards sixth Earl of Abingdon.

[194] Sir John, second Baronet (1799–1869), father of Lord Derwent. His wife was Louise, second daughter of Archbishop Harcourt.

[195] George Granville Harcourt, M.P. for Oxfordshire and eldest son of the Archbishop. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of the second Earl of Lucan. She died in 1838, and in 1847 Mr. Harcourt married Lady Waldegrave, the well-known and much-liked chatelaine of Strawberry Hill. The last of the great Ladies (she was the daughter of John Braham, the singer) who knew how to combine hospitality with fine political and social discernment.

[196] See p. 135.

[197] Owner of Newstead Abbey, bought from Lord Byron in 1818.

[198] Matthew Camidge, organist at York Minster 1799–1842. For five generations the family of Camidge supplied organists in the county of York.

[199] She afterwards married Major-General George A. Malcolm, C.B.

[200] At Nuneham there is a snuff-box, inset with diamonds, given by Queen Victoria to Col. Francis Harcourt, and engraved “for services rendered to her while still at Kensington.”

[201] Rev. William Harcourt (1789–1871), Canon of York. He inherited the Harcourt estates and was the father of Sir William Vernon Harcourt, M.P. His wife was Matilda Mary, daughter of Col. W. Gooch.

[202] Rev. Charles Harcourt, Canon of Carlisle.

[203] Albert Joseph Goblet, Count d’Alviella, a Belgian officer of distinction much esteemed by King Leopold. He was often a guest of M. Van de Weyer, and was well known in London Society. When sent as Belgian Minister to Berlin, the King of Prussia refused to receive him on the ground that he had deserted the King of Holland.

[204] General Comte Baudrand (1774–1848). Originally intended for the Bar, he became, by choice, a soldier, and served with distinction in Italy under the Republic, and under Napoleon at Waterloo he was Chief of Staff of the Army of the North. After the Restoration he was appointed Governor of the Prince Royal, with whom he paid many visits to England.

[205] Afterwards Sir James Clark (1788–1870). He was physician to Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, and afterwards to the Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria. He was not only the Queen’s most trusted physician, but an adviser and friend. He recommended Balmoral to the Queen and the Prince as their Highland home. He attended the Prince during his last hours.

[206] This room was in later years the room of Princess Mary, now H.M. the Queen. It forms part of the Palace temporarily appropriated to the London Museum, and is dedicated to the relics of Queen Victoria’s childhood. In this room Queen Mary was born.

[207] The partitions were taken down after the accession of King Edward, and the great gallery restored to the condition in which it was left by William III.

[208] Now occupied as a sitting-room by Princess Henry of Battenberg.

[209] When King Louis Philippe was Duc d’Orléans his eldest son was Duc de Chartres, and the earlier name survived. In later years the Comte de Paris’ younger brother became Duc de Chartres. See p. 72.

[210] Prince Ferdinand was nephew of the Duchess of Kent (the son of her brother Ferdinand), and was married to Maria da Gloria, Queen of Portugal. Their sons Pedro V. and Luis both succeeded to the Throne. Count Lavradio had been sent to Coburg to negotiate the alliance.

[211] Mrs. Anderson was Princess Victoria’s music-mistress. She was a pupil of Felix Mendelssohn’s, and a most beautiful musician. She taught music to all the Queen’s children and died between 1870 and 1880. Her husband was for many years “Master of the Queen’s Musick,” i.e. Private Band.

[212] Fieschi had attempted to assassinate King Louis Philippe.

[213] Ernest (born 1789), brother of the reigning Landgrave.

[214] Son of Count Pozzo di Borgo, Russian Ambassador. This diplomatist was born in Corsica in 1768, and he began life as a Corsican Deputy to the National Assembly. Agent of the Holy Alliance in Europe, he was the most ardent advocate of the Legitimist cause in France. His talents were remarkable, and his causerie was much appreciated in London society.

[215] Henry, Earl of Lincoln (1811–64), afterwards fifth Duke of Newcastle, a Peelite and Secretary for War during the campaign in the Crimea. He was a holder of other high posts in the Government. An able man, but no one except Mr. Gladstone ever thought him capable of holding the highest. His father returned Mr. Gladstone for his close borough of Newark. Lady Lincoln was a daughter of the tenth Duke of Hamilton, and was divorced in 1850.

[216] William Carr Beresford (1770–1854), better known as Marshal Beresford, so called from his supreme command of Portuguese troops in the Peninsula, the hero of Albuera, the bloodiest battle of the war. Created Baron Beresford of Albuera and Dungarvan 1814, and Viscount in 1823. He married Louisa, widow of Thomas Hope of Deepdene.

[217] Daughter of third Earl of Dartmouth.

[218] Miss Joanna Baillie (1762–1851), a writer of many plays, now forgotten. She is remembered as a lady to whom Sir Walter Scott wrote freely. She resided at Hampstead, and was visited by many distinguished men of letters. Sir Walter edited, and Kemble acted, one of her plays.

[219] Charles Kemble (1775–1854), the youngest of the family whose chief ornament was Mrs. Siddons. A meritorious comedian.

[220] Helen Faucit was now nineteen, and had just made her debut as Julia in The Hunchback. The “Margaret” of the present occasion was her first original part. She married Mr. (afterwards Sir) Theodore Martin in 1851, and was as much esteemed by Queen Victoria for her womanly qualities as by the public for her impersonation of Rosalind. She died in 1898.

[221] George John Bennett, an actor never in the front rank. He was associated with Phelps throughout his long management of Sadler’s Wells, and played respectable parts.

[222] When, as Lady Martin, forty years later, she appeared as Rosalind on a special occasion, in the interests of charity, these characteristics were found to be unimpaired.

[223] Madame Vestris (1797–1856), daughter of Bartolozzi the engraver. She married at sixteen Armand Vestris, and secondly Charles Mathews. Her histrionic powers were not remarkable, but her reputation as a singer and producer of extravaganza stood high.

[224] Charles Mathews (1803–78), one of the most delightful comedians of all time. Destined for the Church, educated as an architect, he did not make his debut on the stage until he was thirty-two years old. He married Madame Vestris, and his Autobiography and Letters were edited by Charles Dickens.

[225] He was thirty-three years old.

[226] Priscilla, daughter of William, first Lord Maryborough and afterwards third Earl of Mornington, was the Duke of Wellington’s niece. Her husband, Lord Burghersh, was afterwards eleventh Earl of Westmorland.

[227] This room is now known as “the State Drawing-room.”

[228] Prince Ernest of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeldt. See p. 145.

[229] Anna Maria, wife of second Marquess of Ely. She was the daughter of Sir H. W. Dashwood, Bart. She died in 1857.

[230] See post, p. 297.

[231] A landscape painter.

[232] Olivia Cecilia, daughter of Charlotte, Baroness de Ros. She married (1833) Henry Richard Wellesley, afterwards first Earl Cowley and British Ambassador at Paris. She died in 1885.

[233] King Leopold used Stockmar for the purpose of educating Prince Ferdinand very much as he used him to train Prince Albert and Princess Victoria in the duties of a Sovereign. King Leopold believed that he had reduced the rules of Sovereignty to a science. See p. 196.

[234] In later years Queen Victoria used similar language about the Prince Consort. In her case it was not an altogether accurate description of the facts. Her dominant character occasionally asserted itself.

[235] His portrait by Winterhalter hangs among Queen Victoria’s “friends” in the ante-room to the Corridor at Windsor. See p. 114.

[236] Madame Malibran. See post, p. 168.

[237] This is the first indication in the Journals that Princess Victoria realised her future position. It is known that for many years knowledge of her possible accession to the Throne was withheld from her. When it was determined that she should be enlightened, a Family Tree was inserted by her governess between the pages of an English history. The child examined it minutely for some time, and turning to Baroness Lehzen said, “Then I shall be Queen.”

[238] Daughter of Lieut.-General Francis Grant and widow of Lord George Murray, Bishop of St. David’s and second son of the second Duke of Atholl.

[239] The mutiny and riots in Portugal were, it was contended, the outcome of the appointment of Prince Ferdinand as Commander-in-Chief. This appointment had been made on the advice of the Duc de Terceira, the Prime Minister. See ante, p. 144.

[240] See ante, p. 137.

[241] Madame Malibran (1808–36), daughter of Manuel Garcia. She was a distinguished singer and a woman of considerable talent. Her first husband was a French merchant, M. Malibran. At the time of her death she was married to M. de Bériot.

[242] He was translated to Durham in 1856. In 1860 he became Archbishop of York and in 1862 Primate of All England.

[243] Charlotte, daughter of the fifth Duke of Northumberland, widow of the third Earl of Ashburnham.

[244] Afterwards wife of the Rev. Algernon Wodehouse.

[245] Granville George (1786–1857), second Lord Radstock, Vice-Admiral of the Red.

[246] Charles Noel (1781–1866) had succeeded in his father’s lifetime to his mother’s barony of Barham. He was created Earl of Gainsborough in 1841. In 1833 he married his fourth wife, Frances, daughter of the third Earl of Roden, afterwards a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria.

[247] Hon. Edward Stopford, second son of third Earl of Courtown.

[248] Afterwards Napoleon III.

[249] The Queen had been led to believe that a counter-revolution would be popular, but the movement was a failure.

[250] The Rt. Hon. John Wilson Croker (1780–1857), M.P. for Downpatrick and Secretary to the Admiralty. Immortalised in Coningsby as “Mr. Rigby,” he has remained the type of malignant and meddling politician that Disraeli desired to expose. His title to respect is that he was one of the earliest contributors to The Quarterly Review, which was founded by John Murray in 1809.

[251] William Wemyss, afterwards Lieut.-General and Equerry to Queen Victoria.

[252] Second son of fifth Viscount Torrington, sometime a Commissioner in the Colonial Audit Office.

[253] A gipsy encampment.

[254] One of the gipsies.

[255] Sir John Malcolm’s Life of Clive, a biography now unreadable, but made famous by Macaulay, who took it as a peg upon which to hang his Essay.

[256] Richard James Lane (1800–72) had in 1829 made a well-known portrait of the Princess at ten years old. He was afterwards distinguished for his skill in lithography, reproducing many works of well-known artists. The portrait he was painting at this time now hangs in the Corridor at Windsor.

[257] Lady Blessington (1789–1849) was at the zenith of her career, editing Books of Beauty, writing novels, and entertaining celebrities at Gore House, Kensington. She was married when young and beautiful to Lord Blessington, an elderly and easy-going Peer, whose daughter by his first wife was the wife of Count d’Orsay. This unfortunate young woman was eclipsed in the affections of d’Orsay by her stepmother. After Lord Blessington’s death, d’Orsay and Lady Blessington presided over a brilliant salon at Kensington Gore, principally attended by the male sex. Lady Blessington recorded in several volumes her conversations with Byron. Disraeli, as a young man, flaunted his most elaborate waistcoats at Gore House.

[258] See ante, p. 99.

[259] Eldest daughter of third Earl of Courtown.

[260] Philip Henry, fourth Earl, and Lucy Catherine, daughter of Robert Low Carrington. Lady Wilhelmina married in 1843 Lord Dalmeny, by whom she had a son (the present Lord Rosebery) and three other children. After Lord Dalmeny’s death in 1851, she married in 1854 the fourth Duke of Cleveland. She was one of the Queen’s train-bearers at her Coronation. She died in May 1901.

[261] Daughter of the fifth Earl Cowper, and niece to Lord Melbourne. She afterwards married Lord Jocelyn. She was a great favourite with Queen Victoria. After the Queen’s marriage and her own marriage she became one of the Queen’s Ladies of the Bedchamber, and held that post till shortly before her (Lady Jocelyn’s) death.

[262] Third daughter of the first Earl of Verulam, and afterwards wife of the fourth Earl of Radnor. The three young ladies mentioned here were afterwards train-bearers elsewhere to Queen Victoria at her coronation.

[263] Daughter of Vice-Admiral Josceline Percy, and afterwards wife of Colonel Charles Bagot.

[264] Marie, Countess of Blebelsberg, born 1806, married Prince Charles of Leiningen (see p. 95). She died 1880.

[265] Colonel Sibthorp, the eccentric member for Lincoln, whose personal appearance was much satirised in Punch.

[266] Afterwards Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton and Lord Lytton of Knebworth. He was distinguished as a writer of novels that enjoyed a great vogue, and as a genuine man of letters. His abilities were of a far higher order than his writing. His ability was his own, but he wrote for the public. He earned a considerable fortune by his pen. For a time he chose to be a politician, and was Secretary for the Colonies in Lord Derby’s Government. His marriage was famous for its failure. His son Robert was Viceroy of India, Ambassador in Paris, and a poet of more than average merit.

[267] Grandson of the twelfth Duke of Norfolk who died in 1842. He succeeded as fourteenth Duke and died in 1860.

[268] Son of Prince Paul Esterhazy, Austrian Ambassador. See p. 77.

[269] Charles (1815–88), afterwards sixth Duke of Rutland, K.G.; he died unmarried. A man of grim manners but not unkindly heart.

[270] Arthur Richard (1807–84), afterwards second Duke of Wellington, K.G. Almost better known by his courtesy title of Lord Douro. Had he not been the son of the Great Duke, his uncommon talents might have earned for him a career of distinction. In appearance he singularly resembled his august father, and late in life he was addicted to a style of costume which led people to say that he wore his father’s old clothes. He, however, possessed a pretty wit.

[271] John William (1811–84), seventh Earl of Sandwich, afterwards Master of the Buckhounds.

[272] Thomas Henry, fourth Lord Foley (1808–69).

[273] Louisa, a daughter of the sixth Duke of Bedford, married James, second Marquess and first Duke of Abercorn. This Duke and his Duchess are generally thought to have been meant by the “Duke” and “Duchess” in Lord Beaconsfield’s novel Lothair.

[274] The three remarkable Sheridan sisters (granddaughters of R. B. Sheridan, the dramatist) were Lady Seymour (afterwards Duchess of Somerset and Queen of Beauty at the Eglinton Tournament), Lady Dufferin (the Mrs. Blackwood mentioned above), and Mrs. Norton. They possessed in an uncommon degree the gift of beauty inherited from Miss Linley, their grandmother, and gifts of mind inherited from Sheridan. Not only Mrs. Norton, but also Lady Dufferin, wrote verse and prose with distinction. Stuart of Dunleath, a novel by Mrs. Norton, was much and justly admired. She inspired George Meredith with the conception of Diana of the Crossways.

[275] Baron Stockmar. See p. 196.

[276] Dr. Howley. See ante, p. 68.

[277] Second Marquess. See ante, p. 98.

[278] Baron Christian Stockmar (1787–1863), physician to Prince Leopold, and subsequently his confidential agent. He abandoned medicine for statecraft, in which he became an expert. He was entrusted by King Leopold to superintend the education of Prince Albert and guide Queen Victoria, both of which services he performed with consummate tact and integrity. He was their devoted friend and counsellor to the end of his life. See ante, p. 154.

[279] William Lamb, Viscount Melbourne (1779–1848), was at this time Prime Minister and fifty-eight years old.

[280] Ernest Augustus (1771–1851), fifth son of George III. He was considered unscrupulous, and was certainly most unpopular in this country. He now succeeded William IV. as King of Hanover. Although of autocratic temperament, he granted his subjects a democratic constitution, much to their surprise.

[281] Augustus Frederick (1773–1843), sixth son of George III. His marriage to Lady Augusta Murray was declared void under the Royal Marriages Act. He had by her two children, Sir Augustus d’Este and Mlle. d’Este (afterwards wife of Lord Chancellor Truro). He married, secondly, Lady Cecilia Buggin (née Gore, daughter of the Earl of Arran), and to her was granted the title of Duchess of Inverness.

[282] Henry William Paget, first Marquess of Anglesey (1768–1854). Commanded the Cavalry at Waterloo. When a round shot tore between him and the Duke of Wellington, he turned to the Duke and said, “By God! I have lost my leg,” and the Duke replied, “By God! I believe you have.” This conversation sums up the two men. Lord Anglesey was a Field-Marshal and Viceroy of Ireland, where he displayed a tendency to liberal ideas that were not considered in accordance with his profession or station. There was never a more gallant soldier, and he “had not a fold in his character.”

[283] Chancellor of the Exchequer. An intelligent politician and responsible for the adoption of the penny post. He was anxious for the Speakership, but failed to win the fancy of the House of Commons. He passed to the House of Lords as Lord Monteagle in 1839 and died in 1866.

[284] James, first Lord Wharncliffe. A Yorkshire magnate and Member of Parliament. Created a Peer 1826. See ante, p. 54.

[285] Alexander Baring, first Lord Ashburton (1774–1848). President of the Board of Trade in Lord Grey’s Administration.

[286] Sir William Draper Best (1767–1845), first Lord Wynford, formerly Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.

[287] A distinguished soldier, at this time Lieut.-General and Master of the Ordnance. M.P. for Windsor. Afterwards created Lord Vivian (1841).

[288] Charles Grant, first and only Lord Glenelg (1778–1866), at this time Secretary for the Colonies. Three years before he had been proposed as Governor-General of India, but his nomination was rejected by the Board of Directors.

[289] Afterwards Lord Sydenham (1799–1841). At this time President of the Board of Trade. In 1839 he was appointed Governor-General of Canada. He died there, aged forty-one, from a fall from his horse.

[290] Henry George, afterwards third Earl Grey (1802–94), at this time Secretary-at-War and Colonial Secretary. An honest and fearless statesman, but a difficult colleague.

[291] Gilbert, second Earl of Minto (1782–1859), First Lord of the Admiralty. In 1832 he had been sent on a special mission to Berlin “to mollify the King of Prussia.” This type of mission has always been popular with the Whigs.

[292] Daughter of George III. She lived at Frogmore and at Clarence House. See ante, p. 61.

[293] Robert Cutlar Ferguson had been counsel for one of the defendants in the trial of Arthur O’Connor and others for treason at Maidstone in 1798. O’Connor was acquitted, but the presence in Court of Bow Street runners to arrest him on a second charge caused a scene of much confusion, one consequence being the prosecution of Cutlar Ferguson, Lord Thanet, and others for an attempted rescue. Ferguson was imprisoned for a year and fined £100. Upon his liberation he went to Calcutta, where he established himself in large and lucrative practice. He died in 1838.

[294] Lord John Russell (1792–1878) was at this time forty-five years old. Home Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons. He was at the height of his combative powers as a Parliamentarian, and his zeal for Whig doctrine at home and Liberal statesmanship abroad was undiminished.

[295] Private Secretary to William IV.

[296] Lady C. Jenkinson, daughter of the Earl of Liverpool. See p. 46.

[297] Anna Maria, daughter of the third Earl of Harrington.

[298] Louisa Fox-Strangways, daughter of the second Earl of Ilchester.

[299] He had been executor to the Queen’s father. One of her first acts was to discharge the debts contracted by the Duke of Kent, which the Duchess had never been able to pay off. See ante, p. 69.

[300] Colonel the Hon. H. F. C. Cavendish (1789–1873), son of Lord Burlington. Clerk-Marshal to the Queen. Married as his second wife Frances Susan, sister of Lord Durham.

[301] Queen Adelaide, the Queen Dowager, a Princess of the House of Saxe-Meiningen. Her attitude towards the young Queen was absolutely perfect, in its simple dignity and freedom from every taint of envy.

[302] Georgina Howard, daughter of the sixth Earl of Carlisle.

[303] Anne, wife of Francis William, second Earl of Charlemont.

[304] Second son of the fourth Duke of Grafton.

[305] George Byng, afterwards second Earl of Strafford.

[306] Lord Durham, by his charming manners, had overcome certain prejudice which had been felt in St. Petersburg on his appointment. He was exceedingly popular with the Emperor. He returned to England, it was said, “a greater aristocrat than ever.” See ante, p. 81.

[307] Lord Mulgrave was created Marquess of Normanby in 1838. A member of Lord Melbourne’s Administration in 1834, he was sent to Ireland as Viceroy, and then returned to the Cabinet as Secretary of State. While the Whigs were in office he was never without a place. He was subsequently Ambassador in Paris, and under Lord Palmerston supported Napoleon III. through the stormy days of the coup d’état.

[308] Lady Mulgrave was Maria Liddell, eldest daughter of the first Lord Ravensworth. She had married, in 1818, the second Earl of Mulgrave, who was created Marquess of Normanby in 1838. See p. 205.

[309] Sarah, daughter of the second Earl Spencer and widow of the third Lord Lyttelton. Afterwards Lady Superintendent to the Princess Royal and the Prince of Wales and the other Princes and Princesses. A shrewd observer and a woman of fine judgment and high ideals.

[310] There is no record of any previous Sovereign wearing the robes of the Bath on such an occasion. Certainly they have never been worn since. A little later in her reign the Queen was always reluctant to exchange the red ribbon of the Bath for the blue ribbon of the Garter. By the advice of Lord Melbourne, however, she was in the habit of wearing the red ribbon when holding an investiture of the Order.

[311] He had just been created Earl of Yarborough. Lady Charlotte was the wife of Sir Joseph Copley. He died in 1846.

[312] The Queen always retained a strong sentiment for Kensington Palace. Part of the old building had been condemned by the Office of Works to be pulled down, but the Queen refused her sanction. During the last year of her reign the Queen made an arrangement with Lord Salisbury and Sir M. Hicks-Beach that, in consideration of Her Majesty giving up the use of Bushey House and the Ranger’s House at Greenwich, the Government should purchase and place at her disposal Schomberg House, and should restore Kensington Palace. Parliament voted £36,000 for this purpose, on the understanding that the State Rooms should be opened to the public.

[313] Louisa, daughter of the thirteenth Viscount Dillon, afterwards wife of Sir Spencer Ponsonby Fane.

[314] These are the rooms now occupied by Queen Mary. The “audience” room opened out of the sitting-room.

[315] Hon. Harriet Elizabeth Pitt, younger daughter of the third Lord Rivers. She married in 1841 Charles Dashwood Bruce, nephew of the Earl of Elgin.

[316] Mary Alicia Spring Rice, eldest daughter of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. She afterwards married James Garth Marshall of Headingley and Monk Coniston.

[317] President of the Board of Control. He had enjoyed the friendship of Byron, travelled with him, and was one of his executors. He was created Lord Broughton in 1851. His Recollections of a Long Life, edited by his daughter, Lady Dorchester, throw much light on the political events of his time. He was so strong a partisan that his judgments of statesmen and political events have to be treated with reservations; but he was a type of politician, cultivated, independent, conscientious, and high-minded, that is becoming rarer as constituencies become less fastidious.

[318] The Queen invariably saw her Ministers in an “audience” room and never in her private sitting-room. An exception was made in the case of Lord Melbourne, the Prime Minister.

[319] See ante, p. 53.

[320] George William, sixth Duke of Argyll, son of John fifth Duke, and his wife, one of the beautiful Gunning sisters, Elizabeth, widow of the sixth Duke of Hamilton. This lady was created Baroness Hamilton in her own right, and her husband was also accorded a barony of Great Britain, thus entitling him to a seat in Parliament.

[321] Fourth son of the fourth Duke of Marlborough; a Captain, R.N. Died at Macao in 1840.

[322] Sigismund Thalberg (1812–71) was now in the full flood of success. He wrote many fantasias on operatic themes, e.g. on Robert le Diable, Zampa, etc. In 1845 he married a widow, the daughter of Lablache. As a composer he never succeeded in emulating his success as a pianist. Later in life he abandoned music, and became a professional vine-grower.

[323] Edward Pery Buckley, afterwards General and M.P. See p. 327.

[324] Alexis, Count Orloff, famous both as general and diplomatist. He had fought in the war of 1829 against Turkey, and signed the Treaty of Adrianople in 1829. He had been sent to enlist English sympathies for Holland as against Belgium in 1832. He also was a signatory of the important treaty of Unkiar Skelessi, and represented Russia in the Congress of Paris in 1856.

[325] Lady Salisbury was Frances Mary, daughter and heir of Bamber Gascoyne, grandson of Sir Crisp Gascoyne, Lord Mayor of London 1752. He was the first Lord Mayor who occupied the Mansion House.

[326] Afterwards an intimate counsellor of the Emperor of Austria, Hereditary Great Chamberlain, and President of the Council.

[327] See ante, p. 192: note on the Sheridan sisters.

[328] Wife of Duke Bernard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, younger brother of Grand Duke Charles Frederick. See p. 125.

[329] At Marlborough House.

[330] Caroline Fanny, daughter of Colonel Cavendish. Maid-of-honour, and Extra Woman of the Bedchamber.

[331] Caroline Margaret, Maid-of-honour, eldest daughter of John, afterwards second Earl Somers. She subsequently married Canon Courtenay, one of the Queen’s chaplains.

[332] Princess Cecile of Sweden, third wife of Grand Duke Augustus of Oldenbourg.

[333] See ante, p. 69.

[334] See ante, p. 145.

[335] King William I., who succeeded his father, Frederic, in 1816.

[336] George, seventh Viscount, a Lord-in-waiting.

[337] Wife of M. de Mérode, who was First Minister in Belgium and a faithful friend to King Leopold.

[338] Lord Broughton (Sir John Hobhouse), in his Reminiscences, refers to this game of chess, and to the slight confusion there was between “the two Queens on the board and the two Queens at the table.”

[339] Sir Jeffrey Wyatt (1766–1840), the architect, whose most important work was the transformation of Windsor Castle, including the addition of thirty feet to the height of the Round Tower. The principal feature of this work is the solid and “fortress-like” appearance, which is conspicuous in the Castle. His name had been originally Wyatt, but George IV., after laying the foundation-stone of the new work, sanctioned the curious addition of “ville” to the surname. Although he was an architect of considerable technical skill, his powers of destructiveness were quite remarkable. He hardly left a stone of Windsor Castle unturned.

[340] Equerry to the Queen, son of the first Marquess of Anglesey by his second marriage with Lady Charlotte Cadogan. Sometime M.P. for Lichfield and Clerk-Marshal of the Royal Household. Lord Broughton described him as “a handsome Calmuck-looking young fellow.”

[341] Prince Aloysius Joseph de Lichtenstein succeeded his father, Jean Joseph, in 1836.

[342] George Villiers (1800–70), British Plenipotentiary at Madrid. In 1838 he became fourth Earl of Clarendon, was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in critical times, 1847–52, and afterwards, with great distinction, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1853, again in 1865 and in 1868. He was not a statesman of very original mind, or of great initiative, but he was honest and prudent and highly regardful of his country’s interests. His manners were delightful and his conversation varied with anecdotes and punctuated by wit. He was one of the principal attractions in London society during the first half of the nineteenth century.

[343] This picture hangs in the Corridor at Windsor Castle. The likenesses are excellent, but the artist has painted the Queen in a white dress, whereas she wore black. The actual dress worn by the Queen is now exhibited in the London Museum at Kensington.

[344] Matilda Susannah, daughter of Hon. Berkeley Paget, fifth son of the first Earl of Uxbridge. She was a Maid of Honour to the Queen, and died in 1871.

[345] Princess Marie of Orleans, daughter of King Louis Philippe. See ante, p. 78.

[346] These rooms, partly remodelled and redecorated, are now occupied by Queen Mary. Up to the death of Queen Victoria no material change was made in them. In 1901 they were much altered, although the main features remain as before.

[347] Sir Moses Montefiore (1784–1885), created a baronet in 1846. His life, prolonged for over a hundred years, was one of flawless generosity and personal kindness to the poor and afflicted of his own race, especially in the eastern provinces of Russia and in Turkey. He obtained consideration for poor Jews from the Russian and Turkish Governments, and his seven pilgrimages to Jerusalem were all undertaken with a view to improving the questionable lot of the Chosen People.

[348] Princess Augusta of Cambridge. See Vol. II., p. 150.

[349] Princess Mary, afterwards Duchess of Teck.

[350] Henry, fourth Duke. He had been so strenuous an opponent of the Reform Bill, that, after its rejection, a mob set fire to Nottingham Castle, his property. Mr. Gladstone was M.P. for Newark owing to the Duke’s influence, which was withdrawn in 1845 when Mr. Gladstone supported Peel on the Corn Laws.

[351] Robert Edward, second son of the second Earl of Kingston, born 1773. He was a Lieut.-General and was created Viscount Lorton in the Irish peerage in 1806. He was a Representative Peer.

[352] See ante, p. 188.

[353] Second daughter of Lord Ilchester, afterwards wife of Sir Edward Clarence Kerrison.

[354] Lady Emily Cowper. She married Lord Ashley, afterwards Earl of Shaftesbury. She, her sister Lady Fanny, and her brothers Spencer Cowper and William Cowper (afterwards Cowper-Temple), were children of the fifth Earl Cowper, whose wife, a sister of Lord Melbourne, married, secondly, Lord Palmerston in 1839. Spencer Cowper married the widow of Count d’Orsay, the step-daughter of Lady Blessington.

[355] Edward Sugden (1781–1875). Afterwards Lord St. Leonards, and Lord Chancellor in the Derby Administration of 1852. A dry but efficient lawyer, an excellent interpreter of any man’s Will but his own, which was disputed.

[356] Henry Hunt had been a great agitator, notably in the years 1816–20. He was elected for Preston in 1830.

[357] Lord Brougham, not having been included in the second Administration of Lord Melbourne, was unsparing in his criticisms of his old colleagues. As Lord Melbourne once pointed out in reply to one of Brougham’s brilliant attacks, the reasons for excluding Lord Brougham from any Ministry must have been very grave, if measured by the obvious reasons for including him.

[358] George, third Lord Boston (1777–1869).

[359] Frederick, second Lord Boston (1749–1825).

[360] Daughter of the second Earl of Chichester; married in October 1837 to the Rev. and Hon. L. J. Barrington.

[361] Lady Melbourne was a daughter of Sir Ralph Milbanke, and William Lamb was her favourite son. When Peniston, her eldest son, died, she encouraged William to devote himself to politics and to abandon the Bar.

[362] The Canadian question was one of the most difficult of the early years of the Queen’s reign. Upper and Lower Canada were totally dissimilar in race, tradition, and natural position. Lower Canada was peopled mainly by French Roman Catholics, Upper Canada by Scottish Protestants, and the mode of Government in both was as cumbrous and inappropriate as it could well be, and afforded unquestionable ground for grievance on the part of the inhabitants. In 1836 a rebellion broke out in the Lower Province headed by Papineau, who had been Speaker of the Assembly. This was followed by an insurrection in the Upper Province, which was quelled in a striking and almost quixotic manner by Sir Francis Head, the Governor, who, dismissing all his regular troops to the Lower Province, trusted to the people to put down the malcontents, and succeeded. Lord Durham was sent out in 1838 as High Commissioner and Governor-General. His report on the proper method of administering the Colony is historical, and ultimately formed the basis of settlement. His acts were not approved by the Whig Government and were annulled by them. He anticipated his recall by resigning and coming home before the end of 1838.

[363] Charles, second son of Lord Grey, the ex-Premier. He was Equerry to the Queen, and had a year or two earlier defeated Disraeli at the High Wycombe election. He became Private Secretary to Prince Albert and later to the Queen. He spent all the years of his life in the Queen’s service, and was always helpful, wise, and unbiassed in the advice he tendered her. The present Earl Grey, Lady Victoria Dawnay, Lady Antrim, and Lady Minto are his surviving children. Many good judges considered his abilities of a higher order than those of his father.

[364] Lady Caroline Ponsonby, daughter of the third Earl of Bessborough, a lady of eccentric mind and habits. She was thrown off her mental and moral balance by her acquaintance with Lord Byron, not perhaps so surprising as the fact that she never recovered either even after Byron’s death.

[365] Lord Melbourne’s brother, afterwards Lord Beauvale, Ambassador Extraordinary at Vienna. As a diplomatist he was irreproachable, handsome, agreeable, and adroit. In private life he was not altogether sans reproche. Without his brother William’s literary acquirements, and with less sarcasm and pungent wit, he yet had a vigorous understanding, much information, and no little capacity for affairs. At sixty years of age, and in broken health, he married a very young lady, the daughter of Count Maltzahn, the Prussian Minister at Vienna.

[366] Henry Richard, third Lord Holland of the 1762 creation, was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Under the auspices of his wife, Holland House, Kensington, was for many years the Zoar of weary Whig politicians. See ante, p. 101, note.

[367] Amelia, daughter of the Grand Duke of Oldenbourg, married to Otho I., King of Greece.

[368] Uncle of the Emperor.

[369] Nicholas I., reigned 1826–55.

[370] Ferdinand I., born in 1793, succeeded his father, Francis I., in 1835. He was brother to Napoleon’s second wife, Marie Louise.

[371] Charles, fourth Earl of Harrington, married Maria, daughter of Samuel Foote the actor.

[372] William, first Earl of Craven, married Louisa, an undistinguished actress, daughter of John Brunton of Norwich.

[373] Edward, twelfth Earl of Derby, married Elizabeth Farren, a Haymarket actress of considerable beauty and charm.

[374] Afterwards Field-Marshal and first Lord Seaton. He was one of Wellington’s generals in the Peninsula and at Waterloo. He was Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, and on Lord Durham’s recall was nominated to succeed him.

[375] Lord Francis Egerton was the second son of George Granville, first Duke of Sutherland. The immense fortune of Francis, third and last Duke of Bridgewater (the father of English inland navigation and, in conjunction with Brindley, constructor of the canal which bears his name) was devised to the first Duke of Sutherland for life, and thereafter to Lord Francis, who on attaining possession assumed the surname of Egerton, in lieu of Leveson-Gower. A “condition subsequent” tending to divest the property in a certain event was decided to be opposed to “public policy.” Lord Francis was created Earl of Ellesmere in 1846.

[376] Lady Falkland. Amelia Fitzclarence, daughter of William IV. See ante, p. 113.

[377] Edward Berkeley Portman, representative of an old Dorsetshire and Somersetshire family, was created Baron Portman in 1837. In 1827 he married Emma, third daughter of the Earl of Harewood, who was at this time one of the Ladies of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria.

[378] This high Constitutional doctrine was certain to meet with the approval of a Whig like Lord Melbourne. It has been the secret of ministerial responsibility and of executive power in the Constitution of this country, and its working has been admired by many foreign observers.

[379] Baron Alexander von Munchausen, a Hanoverian diplomatist, was then about twenty-five. He was not the hero of a celebrated romance.

[380] That the Queen always retained a sentiment for her dolls may be realised from the care with which they were preserved. They are exhibited in the London Museum at Kensington, arranged and ticketed with the names given to them by Princess Victoria.

[381] Letitia, wife of Sir Hussey (afterwards Lord) Vivian. The child Lalage married, in 1857, Henry Hyde Nugent Bankes, son of the Right Hon. George Bankes.

[382] See ante, p. 73.

[383] Mr. (afterwards Rt. Hon.) John Arthur Roebuck. A Liberal “free lance,” who earned the sobriquet of “Tear-’em.” Lord John Russell had brought in a Bill for suspending the Constitution of Canada, and Mr. Roebuck, who was not at the time in Parliament, claimed to be heard at the bar of both Houses as agent for the Lower Province. He made a very able but bitter speech.

[384] Catherine, widow of the twelfth Earl of Desmond, died in 1604, having survived her husband seventy years. There seems much doubt about the principal dates of her life, e.g. those of her birth and marriage, but she is said to have attained the remarkable age of 140 years, and to have died by a fall from a cherry-tree. Sir Walter Raleigh records that he knew her and that she “was married in Edward IV.’s time.”

[385] Henry Brooke Parnell had been member for Maryborough in the Irish House of Commons, and was now member for Dundee. He was made Paymaster-General on that office being constituted in 1838. Afterwards created Lord Congleton.

[386] The Duke never allowed political feeling to interfere with what he considered public duty. As a politician he was a Tory; but as a soldier he had no politics.

[387] Lord Ellenborough (1790–1871) was a son of the Chief Justice, and sat in several Conservative Cabinets. He was Governor-General of India in 1844, and recalled from his post by the directors of the East India Company in opposition to the wish of the Cabinet, who at once recommended him for an earldom. He was too imaginative and daring for the post of Governor-General at this period of Indian administrative history; but his memory was often revived in the person of a more daring and more brilliant successor in that high office.

[388] Alexander, first Lord Ashburton, had been President of the Board of Trade in the brief Peel Administration of 1834–5. He married Miss Bingham of Philadelphia. See ante, p. 199.

[389] David William, third Earl of Mansfield (1777–1840).

[390] Charles William, fifth Earl (1786–1857).

[391] See ante, p. 261. Lady Francis was Harriet, eldest daughter of Charles Greville, the father of the diarist.

[392] Stafford House was built by the Duke of York. It is Crown property vested in the Commission of Woods and Forests. The present (1912) Duke of Sutherland obtained an extension of the Crown lease a few years ago.

[393] Charles Philip, fourth Earl of Hardwicke, had married Susan, daughter of the first Lord Ravensworth. See ante, p. 84, n.

[394] Tempora mutantur.

[395] At the opening of the Queen’s first Parliament in 1837 Lord Leveson [afterwards Lord Granville and Foreign Secretary] had moved in the House of Commons the address in reply to her speech, looking, wrote Disraeli, himself also a new member, “like a child.” Lord Leveson was twenty-two years old, and the Queen had met him a few years earlier at Christ Church. See ante, p. 60. His mother, Lady Granville, was Henrietta, daughter of the fifth Duke of Devonshire.

[396] Lady Lilford was a daughter of Lord and Lady Holland.

[397] Charles Christopher, first Lord Cottenham. On Lord Melbourne forming his second Ministry, the Great Seal was not offered to Brougham, but at first put into Commission. Pepys, Master of the Rolls, was one of the Commissioners, and became a little later Chancellor.

[398] William Henry, second Earl of Dunraven (1782–1850).

[399] See ante, p. 278.

[400] She was Louisa Elizabeth, daughter of Lord Grey the ex-Premier, mother of the “Master Lambton” of Lawrence’s portrait, who died, aged fourteen, and grandmother of the present Earl of Durham, K.G.

[401] King Otho had accepted the throne of Greece in October 1832, and ascended it three months later. This was done in virtue of a request from Greece to Great Britain, France, and Russia.

[402] Mahmud II., Sultan (1808–39), succeeded in the latter year by Abdul-Medjid.

[403] Of some fame, but little merit. He managed the stables of George IV., when Prince of Wales.

[404] This rule was followed with invariable and prudent strictness by the Queen throughout her reign. She was never swayed in action by gossip, however subtle or ill-natured—she required proof; and this rule governed her decision in regard to disputes as to the eligibility of all persons to be invited to Court.

[405] Lord Howe’s attitude was one of hostility to the Government. See ante, p. 113.

[406] George Bartley (died in 1858), a Shakespearean actor who could play Orlando as well as Falstaff. For a time stage-manager at Covent Garden.

[407] Drinkwater Meadows (1799–1869), an excellent performer in comedy of the more eccentric type.

[408] Edgar William Elton (1794–1843) created this part of Beauséant; he also played Romeo, and (with much success) Edgar in Lear.

[409] The disposal of these prisoners was a difficult matter which became acute in the interregnum between the departure of Lord Gosford and the arrival of Lord Durham. Sir John Colborne postponed a decision of the matter, and ultimately the prisoners were dealt with according to the gravity of the case, some being merely bound over, others deported to Bermuda.

[410] Great complaints were being made of the cruelty of the Jamaica planters to their negro apprentices, and Brougham had put himself at the head of an agitation in favour of immediate emancipation. Accordingly the Government introduced a Bill regulating the hours of labour, erecting arbitration tribunals for appraising the value of apprentices desiring a discharge, and forbidding the whipping or cutting the hair of female apprentices, or their being placed on a treadmill, or in the chair of a penal gang.

[411] Street riots had broken out at Lisbon, but the Queen behaved with great courage, and, after Costa Cabral had been installed as Civil Governor of the city, the insurgent forces were dispersed. The occurrence of Donna Maria’s nineteenth birthday on 4th April was marked by an amnesty, purporting to blot out the revolutionary actions of the last eighteen months.

[412] John, second Marquess and fifth Earl of Breadalbane, F.R.S. (1796–1862).

[413] A distinguished Peninsular officer, who had commanded the Portuguese division at Vittoria; Commander-in-chief at Bombay 1825–9.

[414] John, afterwards eleventh Earl of Westmorland, son of John, tenth Earl and Sarah Anne his wife, only daughter and heir of Robert Child of Osterley Park. His sister, Lady Jersey (who died in 1867), succeeded to the banker’s great fortune. See ante, p. 149.

[415] Major-General Sir A. Dickson, R.A., had been Superintendent of Artillery Operations in the Peninsula, and fought at Waterloo, and was Director-General of the Field-train Department.

[416] Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy (1769–1839), Captain of the Victory at Trafalgar. In 1830 he was First Sea Lord, and, later, Governor of Greenwich Hospital, a post he was holding at this time.

[417] Lord Minto. See ante, p. 200.

[418] Lord Howick. See ante, p. 200.

[419] “Your Majesty’s most affectionate Friend, Aunt, and Subject, Adelaide.”

[420] Lord Melbourne’s sister, afterwards Lady Palmerston. See p. 242.

[421] Dietz had been Governor to Prince Ferdinand, and accompanied him to Portugal, where he took a considerable part in political affairs.

[422] George, Lord Byron, succeeded his cousin the poet in 1824. He was an extra Lord-in-waiting to the Queen.

[423] It was altered by King Edward in 1905, and the Prime Minister now takes rank immediately after the Archbishop of York.

[424] Whig M.P. for West Riding of Yorkshire.

[425] Joseph Pease, M.P. for South Durham, had been a pioneer of railway construction, and had assisted his father in forming (upon the persuasion of George Stephenson) the Stockton and Darlington line.

[426] Sir George Grey of Falloden, Northumberland, second Baronet (1799–1882), Under-Secretary for the Colonies. Appointed Judge Advocate-General in 1839, and in 1846 Home Secretary under Lord John Russell, an office which he held for nearly twenty years. He was a man of fine presence and great social charm. His high moral qualities and freedom from personal ambition gained for him the esteem of both political parties and the confidence of his countrymen. He has been worthily succeeded in his title and all else by his grandson, Sir Edward Grey, K.G.

[427] This brilliant advocate, who died at the age of forty-seven, had been Peel’s Solicitor-General, and became Attorney-General in 1841. He appeared for Norton in his action for crim. con. against Melbourne, without any success, for the charge was triumphantly refuted.

[428] See ante, p. 149.

[429] The Hon. F. G. Byng, sometime Gentleman Usher of the Privy Chamber.

[430] He would have been 50 on January 22, 1838.

[431] She was an illegitimate daughter of Edward Walpole (second son of Sir Robert) by Mary Clement, a sempstress in Pall Mall. Their two other daughters became Countess of Albemarle and Countess of Dysart respectively.

[432] Married her cousin George, seventh Earl Waldegrave.

[433] Wife of George, second Duke of Grafton.

[434] Father of the Admiral, Sir Beauchamp Seymour, Lord Alcester.

[435] To William, second Earl, when Lord Cavendish.

[436] Holland House was built by Sir Walter Cope in 1607. His daughter and co-heiress married Henry Rich, first Earl of Holland.

[437] Wife of James Howard, afterwards third Earl of Malmesbury.

[438] Sir William Knighton had been physician to George IV., when Prince of Wales, and was private secretary and Keeper of his Privy Purse when King. The King employed him in various confidential matters.

[439] Queen Victoria in 1872 wrote of Louis as “the former faithful and devoted friend of Princess Charlotte—beloved and respected by all who knew her—and who doted on the little Princess who was too much an idol in the House. This dear old lady was visited by every one, and was the only really devoted attendant of the poor Princess, whose governesses paid little real attention to her, and who never left her, and was with her when she died.” See p. 62.

[440] Marshal Soult, Duke of Dalmatia, was appointed Ambassador of the King of the French at Queen Victoria’s Coronation. He had been Wellington’s antagonist in the Peninsula, and this added to his popularity with the masses of the London streets.

[441] General Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby, K.C.B., G.C.M.G., second son of the third Earl of Bessborough, and brother of Lady Caroline Lamb. He was the father of the late Sir Henry Ponsonby, Queen Victoria’s private secretary and Keeper of her Privy Purse.

[442] Lady Charlotte Campbell, daughter of the fifth Duke of Argyll, married, first, Colonel Campbell, and second, Rev. E. J. Bury; was Lady-in-Waiting to Caroline, Princess of Wales. She was a friend and patroness of Sir W. Scott, and wrote several novels. In 1838 appeared A Diary illustrative of the Times of George IV., which was attributed to her by Lord Brougham—a charge which was never denied. The work was severely criticised.

[443] Francis Charles, third Marquess (1777–1842), the “Lord Monmouth” of Coningsby. His son, here called Lord Yarmouth, succeeded him and died unmarried in 1870. The fourth Marquess was the founder of the magnificent collections now the property of the nation at Hertford House.

[444] Her paternity was in dispute between the Duke of Queensberry and George Selwyn.

[445] Lord Yarmouth, afterwards fourth Marquess, and his brother Lord Henry Seymour always lived in Paris. Lord Hertford possessed a fine apartment at the corner of the Rue Lafite and a country place called “Bagatelle” in the Bois de Boulogne. Subsequently they passed to Sir R. Wallace and later to Sir John Murray Scott. Bagatelle is now the property of the Municipality of Paris.

[446] Hortense Eugenie Claire, daughter of Duc de Bassano, Minister of Napoleon I., married 1833 to Francis Baring, afterwards third Lord Ashburton.

[447] Comte de Flahaut, son of Comtesse de Flahaut Adele, who was afterwards Baronne de Souza, had once been French Ambassador in London, as Sebastiani now was, but there was a competition between Flahaut and Soult as to which should be specially appointed to represent the King of the French at the Coronation. His likeness to Napoleon III. was considered remarkable and significant.

[448] Wife of Major-General Sir Guy Campbell, Bart., and daughter of Lord Edward Fitzgerald and his wife Pamela, daughter of Madame de Genlis.

[449] Afterwards George IV.

[450] Garth was an eminent physician in the time of William III. and Queen Anne. He wrote occasional verses fluently, and his poem “The Dispensary” had a great vogue for fifty years.

[451] Elizabeth, wife of Peregrine, third Duke of Ancaster.

[452] Georgiana, daughter of the third Duke of Ancaster, and widow of the first Marquess of Cholmondeley.

[453] Priscilla, also daughter of the third Duke of Ancaster. On the death of their brother unmarried, the barony of Willoughby de Eresby fell into abeyance between the sisters, which was terminated by the Crown in favour of Priscilla, the elder, in 1780.

[454] The barony of Fauconberg, of an earlier creation, was revived in 1903 in favour of the present (1912) Countess of Yarborough, daughter and co-heir of the twelfth Lord Conyers.

[455] Cromwell’s son-in-law was promoted from Viscount to be Earl Fauconberg. He left no child. His great-nephew was again created Earl, and married a sister of Peniston, first Viscount Melbourne. Their daughters married as follows: Lady Charlotte Bellasyse to Thomas Edward Wynn, Anne to Sir George Wombwell, Elizabeth successively to the Duke of Norfolk and Lord Lucan.

[456] Henry Fox (afterwards fourth and last Lord Holland) married Lady Augusta Coventry; at her death in 1889, Holland House, Kensington, became the property of Lord Ilchester.

[457] 21st December, 1785.

[458] Daniel Maclise (1806–70). His first success was a sketch of Sir Walter Scott drawn by him unobserved. His best-known works are the two cartoons in the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords. He was elected to the Royal Academy in 1840.

[459] John, sixteenth Earl of Shrewsbury, Premier Earl of England. This question of the oath to be taken by Roman Catholic peers and members had been repeatedly brought forward by the Bishop of Exeter. It pledged the jurant to do nothing to “disturb or weaken the Protestant Religion or Protestant Government, or to subvert the Church establishment.” A gentleman wrote to the Bishop to say that he could not take the oath, as his wish was to upset the Church establishment, and he was therefore excluded from Parliament. See ante, p. 56.

[460] Prince George of Cambridge. See ante, p. 77.

[461] Eldest son of the third Earl of Roden, and died in his father’s lifetime. In 1841 he married Lady Fanny Cowper. See ante, p. 188.

[462] Grandson of the Duke of Norfolk. See ante, p. 190.

[463] Afterwards fourth Earl of Radnor. See ante, p. 60.

[464] Edward Vernon, fourth Lord Suffield (1813–53).

[465] Georgiana, Lady Seymour, Queen of Beauty at the Eglinton Tournament. One of the Sheridan sisters. See ante, p. 192.

[466] Daughter of Mr. Canning, the Prime Minister, and wife of the first Marquess of Clanricarde. See Vol. II. pp. 75 and 261.

[467] Daughter of the second Earl de Grey, K.G., and sister of Lady Cowper. She was married to Mr. Henry Vyner.

[468] Daughter of G. G. Vernon Harcourt, M.P. Lord Norreys succeeded in 1854 to the earldom of Abingdon. See ante, p. 132.

[469] Daughter of the eleventh Earl of Pembroke, afterwards wife of Viscount de Vesci. See ante, p. 77.

[470] Sister of Lady Emma Herbert, and wife of the third Earl of Clanwilliam.

[471] Daughter of the first Earl of Verulam. She married Lord Folkestone (see preceding page) in 1840. See ante, p. 189.

[472] Sister of Lord Jocelyn (see preceding page) and wife of the sixth Viscount Powerscourt.

[473] Daughter of the third Viscount Hawarden.

[474] Clementina, sister of the fourteenth Lord Elphinstone, afterwards wife of the fourth Viscount Hawarden.

[475] Daughter of Lord Anglesey, and sister of Lord Uxbridge. She married in 1851 Frederick, son of the third Earl Cadogan.

[476] Sir Thomas Acland, tenth Bart.

[477] Alexander, tenth Duke (1767–1852).

[478] Edward Adolphus, eleventh Duke. See ante, p. 68.

[479] James, sixth Duke (1816–1879).

[480] To rescind the Irish Church resolution of 1835.

[481] Charles William, third Marquess, half-brother of the eminent statesman, better remembered as Lord Castlereagh. Lord Londonderry was a soldier and diplomatist.

[482] George O’Brien, third Earl of Egremont, died unmarried in November 1837, aged eighty-six. Lady Munster was his illegitimate daughter, but his estates in Sussex and Cumberland were devised to other adopted heirs.

[483] An extreme instance of this partiality is described in Warren’s Ten Thousand a Year. In 1868 the jurisdiction to decide disputed elections was transferred to the Court of Common Pleas.

[484] John Thomas, first and only Earl of Redesdale (1805–86), Chairman of Committees in the House of Lords, 1851–86. Lord Redesdale was one of the last men in England who wore habitually in the daytime the old-fashioned “tail-coat.”

[485] Lady Catharine was daughter of the third Earl of Radnor, and Victor was her fifth son. See ante, p. 219.

[486] There is a portrait of the Queen by John Partridge in King George’s room at Buckingham Palace showing the hair done in this fashion.

[487] Charles, second Viscount Townshend, K.G., married Dorothy, sister of Sir Robert Walpole. Townshend was President of the Council 1720, and afterwards Secretary of State. There was jealousy between the brothers-in-law, and Horace Walpole sarcastically observed that things went well or ill according as the style of the firm was Townshend and Walpole or Walpole and Townshend.

[488] Henry Francis, fourteenth Baron Teynham (1768–1842).

[489] At the festival of the 14th July, 1790, held in the Champ de Mars he officiated at the altar. It was his last celebration of the Mass.

[490] Prince George of Cambridge.

[491] Sixth son of Lord Anglesey. He was second in command, to Lord Cardigan, of the Light Cavalry Brigade in the Crimea; he subsequently became Inspector of Cavalry, and later M.P. for Beaumaris.

[492] Eldest son of the fifth Earl de la Warr. See ante, p. 60.

[493] Afterwards sixth Earl Fitzwilliam, K.G., and A.D.C. to the Queen.

[494] She was younger daughter of the second Earl Talbot, and wife of the seventh Marquess of Lothian.

[495] Prince George, born 1819, succeeded his father on the throne of Hanover in 1851. He ultimately suffered from total blindness, caused by swinging a bunch of keys attached to a chain, that struck accidentally one of his eyes. He sided with Austria in 1866 against Prussia, and after Sadowa his kingdom was annexed to Prussia by decree. King George was a Knight of the Garter and Duke of Cumberland. He was a Prince of amiable disposition and simple manners. At his death he was succeeded in the dukedom by his eldest son, who married the younger sister of Queen Alexandra.

[496] According to the Royal Marriages Act, none of the Royal Family can marry without the Sovereign’s consent. See post, p. 390.

[497] Lord Mulgrave and Lord Dundas were created respectively Marquis of Normanby and Earl of Zetland, but Lord Barham was not made Earl of Gainsborough till 1841.

[498] Afterwards wife of the eighth Earl of Elgin, Viceroy of India.

[499] Son of Lord Duncannon, and grandson of the Earl of Bessborough.

[500] Hon. Charles Augustus Murray. See Vol. II., p. 94.

[501] I.e., Mutiny at the Nore, May 1797.

[502] This is now proved not to have been the case. He suffered from infantile paralysis of one leg which was badly treated and developed into permanent lameness. Miss Chaworth’s words, which were either overheard by or repeated to Byron, were, “Do you think I could care anything for that lame boy?” He did see her on more than one occasion in later years.

[503] Her grand-uncle was killed as described by William, fifth Lord Byron, in 1765.

[504] Dr. Goodall. See ante, p. 119.

[505] The Head Master. See ante, p. 119.

[506] She was Jane, daughter of the second Marquess Cornwallis and wife of the third Lord Braybrooke.

[507] Son of Duke Charles Bernard and Duchess Ida (a sister of Queen Adelaide). Prince Edward was A.D.C. to Lord Raglan in the Crimea, and ultimately Commander of the Forces in Ireland.

[508] Charles Wood (afterwards Lord Halifax). At this time Secretary to the Admiralty. See ante, p. 99.

[509] These portraits were among those which by custom were presented to the Headmaster of Eton by certain distinguished Etonians on leaving school. The gift of a portrait was usually made by request. A boy was considered honoured by being asked to leave his portrait to the school. The custom lapsed about forty years since. This collection was recently overhauled by Mr. Lionel Cust. It is now in fine order, carefully arranged in the Provost’s Lodge at Eton. The portraits have been engraved and collected in the form of a sumptuous volume.

[510] This may be the portrait now in the Corridor at Windsor Castle.

[511] W. F. Chambers, Physician-in-Ordinary to King William and Queen Adelaide, and afterwards to Queen Victoria and the Duchess of Kent.

[512] Sir Michael O’Loghlen did not, however, leave the Rolls. The new Chief Baron was Mr. Stephen Woulfe, the Irish Attorney-General.

[513] She married Lord Sandwich (see p. 191) in the following September.

[514] Lady Adelaide Paget (afterwards Lady Adelaide Cadogan). See ante, p. 319.

[515] The Marriage Act of 1835 made null and void all marriages within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity or affinity. Before they had only been voidable.

[516] In this case the two wives were half sisters, daughters of the Duke of Wellington’s sister by different husbands.

[517] The Prince Consort was strongly in favour of legalising these marriages, and King Edward (then Prince of Wales) always voted in favour of the Bills introduced for the purpose of amending the law.

[518] This custom has now unfortunately fallen into disuse.

[519] No one has a prescriptive or ex officio right to wear the “Windsor uniform.” It is an honour conferred personally by the Sovereign. Of recent Prime Ministers, this privilege has been enjoyed by Lord Salisbury, Lord Rosebery, and Mr. Balfour.

[520] Sunderland’s Ministry in 1718 introduced a measure to limit the creation of peers, the object being to prevent the Prince of Wales (when King) from swamping the Lords with his partisans. Walpole spoke and wrote vigorously against the Bill, and organised the opposition to it in anticipation of the time when it should reach the Commons. He succeeded in altering the public attitude to the Bill, and it was rejected by a large majority.

[521] After this date, that is to say, the early part of the Queen’s reign, the Order of the Bath began to be somewhat neglected. It was partly owing to the creation of new Orders, such as the Star of India and the St. Michael and George. It has, however, recently been ordained by King George V. that the annual service for the Order of the Bath in Westminster Abbey shall be revived, and the banners and shields of the Knights Grand Cross be affixed to their stalls in Henry VIIth.’s chapel.

[522] See ante, p. 205.

[523] Sir Peter King, who became Lord Chancellor, was created Lord King of Ockham in 1725. The present baron (eighth holder of the title) had married in 1835, Ada, the only child of Lord Byron. Lord King now became Earl of Lovelace.

[524] Eldest son of the Duke of Leeds, who died in the following month.

[525] In 1847, when the offer was repeated, Lord Melbourne wrote to the Queen that “for a long time he had found himself much straitened in his circumstances” and that “he knows that the expense of accepting the ribbon amounts to £1,000, and there has been of late years no period at which it would not have been seriously inconvenient to him to pay down such a sum.”

[526] With the exception of Lord Beaconsfield and Lord Palmerston, no Prime Minister, as such, has accepted the Garter in recent times.

[527] Sir Sotherton Peckham-Micklethwait, of Iridge Place, Sussex. Created a baronet “for a personal service rendered to Her Majesty and the Duchess of Kent at St. Leonards in Nov. 1834.” See ante, p. 104.

[528] Clarenceux King-of-Arms, afterwards Garter.

[529] Edward Maltby (1770–1859), Bishop of Durham, to which he had been recently translated from Chichester.

[530] The ceremonial as described by the Queen does not compare favourably with those of King Edward or King George, when hardly a mistake was made by any of those officiating. The ritual at the Coronation of King Edward was especially difficult, owing to the age and infirmities of Archbishop Temple.

[531] Lord Surrey was son and heir of the Earl Marshal, the twelfth Duke of Norfolk, whom he succeeded in 1842. He married Charlotte Sophia, daughter of the first Duke of Sutherland.

[532] The Litany was omitted at the Coronation of King Edward VII., and reintroduced at the Coronation of King George V.

[533] The robe is exhibited in the London Museum at Kensington Palace.

[534] Second son of Louis Philippe. He was offered two thrones, Belgium in 1831 and Greece in 1832, but declined both. See ante, p. 130.

[535] This has been remedied by the recent custom of giving a Viscountcy to any Secretary of State who is raised to the Peerage.

[536] Nicholas, third Baron Audley by writ and tenth by tenure, fought in the wars with France 1359 and 1372. His sister Joan married Sir John Tuchet, killed at Rochelle, 1371, and her grandson succeeded to the title. On the death, in 1872, of the twenty-first Baron (son of George Edward Thicknesse Touchet, twentieth Baron, whom the Queen and Lord Melbourne were discussing), the barony fell into abeyance between his daughters.

[537] Eldest son of the Duke of Sutherland, and nine years old. He succeeded his father as third Duke in 1861.

[538] Eldest son of Lord Conyngham, and thirteen years old. Succeeded as third Marquess in 1876, and died in 1882.

[539] Eldest son of Lord Uxbridge, seventeen years old. Died in 1880.

[540] This was certainly an error of judgment on the part of Lord Melbourne. The Queen’s appearance on horseback, in the uniform still to be seen in the London Museum at Kensington Palace, was extraordinarily fascinating, and added greatly to the interest of any Review at which she appeared.

[541] The Queen evidently did not grasp a name unfamiliar to her. The ratification of the Treaty of Amiens was sent over by Napoleon in charge of Colonel Lauriston, his A.D.C. When this officer left the house of M. Otto in London to deliver his credentials to Lord Hawkesbury, the scene occurred which the Queen here describes. The carriage was accompanied to Downing Street by a guard of honour of the Household Cavalry.

[542] Afterwards first Baron Lyons of Christchurch (1790–1858). At this time Minister Plenipotentiary at Athens. In 1853, war with Russia being imminent, he was appointed second in command of the fleet in the Mediterranean, and displayed boldness and initiative in the attack on the sea defences of Sebastopol. He became Commander-in-Chief in 1855, and, on the termination of the war, a Peer.

[543] The dukedom of Montagu, created in 1766, become extinct at the death of the first Duke in 1790.

[544] In later years Edward Geoffrey, fourteenth Earl of Derby, three times Prime Minister, was reported to have refused a dukedom, on the ground that he would not exchange his Earl’s coronet, which dated from the fifteenth century, for a set of new strawberry leaves.

[545] Lord Melbourne’s private secretary. He afterwards served Prince Albert in a similar capacity. See Vol. II. p. 37.

[546] He was for a time Attaché to the British Embassy in Paris, and died in 1847.

[547] A lovely portrait of her by Gainsborough is the property of Lord Rothschild at Tring Park.

[548] Lord Seymour bore, by courtesy, the only other title of his father, the Duke of Somerset. So there was not a third title available for the grandson, as is the case in other families of ducal rank.

[549] Thomas Sheridan, actor and lecturer on elocution. Published in 1780 a General Dictionary of the English Language with a special view to teaching pronunciation. A work of phonetic rather than philological value.

[550] Eldest surviving son of the third Marquess of Lansdowne, and afterwards fourth Marquess. The elder brother (Lord Kerry) had died without male issue.

[551] Aunt of Lord Shelburne. She was a daughter of the fourth Earl of Bessborough.

[552] Lord Shelburne married in 1840 Lady Georgina Herbert, daughter of the eleventh Earl of Pembroke. She died in the following year. In 1843 he married the Hon. Emily Elphinstone-de-Flahaut, in her own right Baroness Nairne.

[553] Formerly Lady Cavendish. Her husband had succeeded as second Earl of Burlington in 1834. See ante, p. 53. She died in 1840.

[554] George, fifth Earl of Essex (1757–1839).

[555] Ladies of unblemished character, retired from the stage, were permitted to appear at Court.

[556] Charles, Earl Grey, the ex-Prime Minister, who rarely came to town at this period of his life, and must have been a novelty for the Queen.

[557] Count Stroganoff was the special representative of the Czar at the Coronation.

[558] His son who died, aged four years, in 1783.

[559] Lady Sarah Lennox, who was a daughter of the second Duke of Richmond, married first, Sir Thomas Charles Bunbury, secondly the Hon. George Napier. George III. was undoubtedly much attracted by this lady. By her second marriage she became the “Mother of the Napiers,” a designation almost as famous in the British history of the Napoleonic Wars as the “Mother of the Gracchi” in Republican Rome.

[560] Daughters of John Gunning, of Castle Coote. See ante, p. 215.

[561] Lord Alfred Paget. See ante, p. 226.

[562] See ante, p. 310.

[563] Mehemet Ali, the Pasha, having announced his intention to pay no more tribute to the Porte (an action equivalent to a declaration of independence), great efforts were made by the representatives of the Powers to induce him to reconsider his decision.

[564] The French Ambassador in London.

[565] Baron Heinrich von Bülow, many years Prussian representative in London, afterwards Prussian Minister for Foreign Affairs.

[566] The adjustment of the debt between Holland and Belgium.

[567] The equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington stood on the arch at Hyde Park Corner from 1846 to 1883. It excited much ridicule at the time of its erection. There was a question of its removal, but the Duke of Wellington strongly opposed the suggestion. He said that he never wished his statue to be put upon the Arch, but once there, there it should remain. It was removed nearly forty years later to Aldershot. Recently some prancing horses and a chariot have taken the place of old Copenhagen and the Duke.

[568] As an illustration of the vagaries of “taste” in Art, it may be mentioned that this statue is now considered one of the most successful in London.

[569] This refers to the reading by the Queen of her “Speech.”

[570] All this paragraph refers to the disputes between Belgium and Holland over their respective financial responsibilities.

[571] Afterwards Sir John MacNeill. He had been sent as Envoy to Teheran to try to prevent the Shah attacking the Afghans.

[572] Lord Melbourne was a “low Churchman and an Erastian,” like so many of the Whigs of that day.

[573] This love of straight dealing and dislike of flattery were lifelong characteristics of the Queen.

[574] In 1815 Belgium and Holland were, by the action of the European Powers at the Congress of Vienna, united into one Kingdom. This led to constant friction and even to open hostilities between the two nations, and in 1831 a Conference of the Powers decreed a dissolution of the Union, and drew up a Treaty, but the division of territory again led to a war which is chiefly notable for the siege of Antwerp in 1832. In 1838 Holland announced for the first time her readiness to accede to the provisions of the Treaty of 1832. The Belgians claimed that this acquiescence came too late, but under pressure of the Powers she had in the end to give her assent. During this excitement the failure of the Bank of Brussels produced a financial crisis which caused great distress among the people.

[575] Count von Senfft Pilsach was Austrian Minister at The Hague, and came to England in 1838 as Austrian Plenipotentiary at the Conference which took place in London to settle the Separation of Holland and Belgium. He signed the Treaty of 1839 on behalf of Austria.

[576] Member for Oxford University. He had displaced Sir Robert Peel at the time of the Tory split on Catholic Emancipation.

[577] This was common Whig doctrine up to the Crimean War, when the unreadiness of the Military Authorities caused a reaction, which indirectly led to the fall of the Aberdeen Government.

[578] Wife of Warren Hastings.

[579] Melbourne House stood on the site of the Albany. See Vol. II., p. 96.

[580] In 1771 the Duke of Cumberland secretly married Anne, daughter of Lord Irnham (afterwards Earl of Carhampton) and widow of Andrew Horton. Her brother was Colonel Luttrell, the opponent of Wilkes. Not long afterwards, the Duke of Gloucester made public the fact of his marriage to the Dowager Countess Waldegrave. These two marriages led to the passing of the Royal Marriage Act, which governs (with certain exceptions) the marriages of all descendants of George II. See ante, p. 333, and Vol. II., p. 43.

[581] Lord Melbourne modified this opinion next day.

[582] Partly in consequence of his intrigues with the Prince of Wales against Pitt in the matter of the Regency Bill.

[583] Brownlow North, Bishop successively of Lichfield, Worcester, and Winchester.

[584] See note, post, p. 397.

[585] Mary, daughter of the first Viscount Galway, married, as his second wife, Edmund, seventh Earl of Cork. She died in 1840.

[586] Remarks on an Article for the “Edinburgh Review” on the Times of George III. and George IV., by General Sir Herbert Taylor, who had been Secretary successively to the Duke of York, George III., Queen Charlotte, and William IV.

[587] A Diary illustrative of the Times of George IV., published in 1838. See ante, p. 310.

[588] Lady Anne Hamilton was a lady-in-waiting of Caroline, wife of George IV., whom she accompanied to England in 1820. The Secret History of the Court was published without her name, but the authorship was never disputed.

[589] Lord Guilford was the son of Lord North, George III.’s Minister, and his sister, here mentioned, was Lady Charlotte Lindsay, wife of Lieut.-Col. Hon. John Lindsay. See ante, p. 392.

[590] James Kenney (1780–1849), a successful dramatist. He was the original Jeremy Diddler in his own Raising the Wind, when it was acted by amateurs. The play was subsequently performed at Covent Garden.

[591] Granville Penn (1761–1844), grandson of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania.

[592] Lady Emmeline Wortley, daughter of the fifth Duke of Rutland, wife of Charles Stuart Wortley. Her daughter, Victoria, goddaughter of the Duchess of Kent, afterwards Lady Welby-Gregory, was sometime a maid-of-honour to the Queen.

[593] Granville, Earl Gower (1721–1803), had sat for Westminster before his accession to the Peerage. Thereafter he was Lord Privy Seal, Lord Chamberlain and President of the Council. He was created Marquess of Stafford, and K.G. He married Lady Louisa Egerton, daughter and co-heiress of Scrope, first Duke of Bridgwater.

Transcriber’s Notes:

• Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.